How common/normal is a tummy and double chin in 16/17 year old girls?

[wherehaveallthegoodfolkgone]

I don't know whether to tell DD or not (almost 17).
She was always skinny. Last year with the intense stress of GCSEs, she began binging from time to time . Throughout year 9-11 she said she spent hours thinking about food. The tic tok videos have probably fuelled her hunger.
The double chin is really getting bad but she has a bulging tummy now. She hides behind hideous thick false lashes, and tons of layers of makeup that is caked on for school daily.
I've tried a therapist but she's not interested.
Any advice appreciated

I don't think it's usual. It sounds like you're concerned about binge eating disorder?

She knows. However, she may not be able to face it and do something about it.

are you framing your concerns about her in terms of her well-being or her appearance…?

No I don’t think that’s normal.
I’d get rid of the junky food in your house and replace with healthier snacks. Does she exercise - I don’t mean classes but like walk to school etc
Why episode TikTok fuel hunger though? Growth spurts can!

Thanks everyone. Relatively very little junk in my house, ever. She maintains that was the cause - that her friends are not obsessed with junk because their parents stocked up on it.
I'm not so sure it's as simple as that.
It's her health I'm worried about first and foremost. Particularly diabetes somewhere down the line...

Yes I'd established she had an eating disorder but she refused the therapy, I tried so hard. I bought her books on eating disorders and body dysmorphia but it's all just brushed aside.

Yes I'd established she had an eating disorder but she refused the therapy, I tried so hard. I bought her books on eating disorders and body dysmorphia but it's all just brushed aside.

Yeah my dsis says the same but honestly I think some people just have a lot more “food noise” than others and whether you grew up in a house with no junk or freely available snacks, once you have access to outside supply, the results are the same. Some people aren’t that bothered and some people are obsessed and there’s a spectrum in between. People’s experiences with mounjaro pretty much prove that there are physiological differences- once they take the shot their interest in food basically dies.

Back off OP.

A double chin is not mental illness.

Totally misconstrued what I was saying. And actually, binge eating in secret on a regular basis and self loathing IS a sign of a disorder and hence the call for support.
Her weight gain is sudden and drastic and I've come on here to ask what's normal, not to be told off.
Sick of Mumsnet bullies.

LaPalmaLlama I think it was that - outside access, food noise - very true.

She know she can come to you for help when she's ready. Or she may go elsewhere for help. It will happen when she's ready.

I think you need to take your focus off her weight and food behaviours. Support her in whatever she's aiming for in life. Maybe take her somewhere to be spoilt if that's what she'd enjoy. Pay for her and her friends to do fun active stuff like roller blading.

Don't talk about her weight or eating disorders. Don't make food something she needs to hide from you.

I’d say slight double chins are quite normal as it’s to do with face structure and lots of people don’t have sharp jawlines even when very slim. Same for a slightly rounded tummy but obviously the binging isn’t normal.

No, it’s not normal at 17 and will only get worse as she gets older.

Thanks everyone, really helpful

What does tiktok have to do with fuelling the hunger, was she watching content about food? Genuine ask, not snark, I don't understand the link, it's not clear.

Unfortunately it's very hard for loved ones to broach conversations about weight, eating and health, as it comes with so much stigma. I know you say you are concerned (rightly) about her health, but your comments about how she looks show that this is also a concern for you. It's hard to decouple those things, because I'm guessing the message she might be receiving is that you don't fully accept her the size she is and how she looks.

I love my DM dearly, but she's an "almond mom". Anti junk food, it was banned when we were growing up. It absolutely did hold more fascination for me because she was so against it, and I've had my food choices scrutinised and judged my whole life. I've recently lost significant weight, partly on Mounjaro, and one of the things I've been battling has been that losing the weight = gaining her approval. I don't like the compliments, because it's a reminder that she thought how I looked before wasn't ok.

What do you value about your daughter that isn't about her weight or appearance? What are her good qualities that you could emphasise? What activities is she involved in/does she enjoy that are not centred around food?

CrazyGoatLady thanks for sharing your experience. It's really helpful to get perspective on this .
I think the scrolling through shorts , dessert videos, food videos keeps the brain thinking about food.

Just for balance - I also grew up with an “almond mom” (never heard that term before but it resonates!) and I’ve never had any issues with bingeing or junk food. Don’t blame yourself.