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Unfortunately, I haven't outgrown the habit. I am my worst critic and feel overweight. However, I never voice these concerns out loud at home. I don't want my kids to go through what I went through as a child (my 5-year-old is already too aware of weight issues), so I make sure to praise them when they work hard at an activity (my girls are involved in dance) or on a cute outfit they pick out. We are active as a family, which I think helps, too. My 5-year-old's weight obsession started with a comment made by a boy in school. My 11-year-old daughter has never voiced a concern with her own weight.
I think we are doing okay at home, but I still wish I could squash the negativity in my own head.
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A boy in her Pre-K class called her fat several weeks ago, and now she is obsessed with her weight and food. She walks around sucking her stomach in so her ribs stick out, then cries when we tell her to be herself. She asks me on a daily basis (several times a day) if she's losing weight, or if her "tummy is smaller." If the TV is on she'll make comments like, "that girl is fat so she doesn't eat healthy" or "I want to look like that girl" (these are not weight-concious shows - this happens just when watching commercials). She'll even stop eating halfway through a meal and say, "I can't eat anymore or I'll get fatter."
I am okay with being health-concious. We eat family meals and encourage physical activities in our home. We tell our kids that healthy foods are necessary fuel for our bodies. But my 11-year-old daughter hasn't even gone through this obsession with weight. My 5-year-old is a very happy little girl, except when it comes to the weight topic. I'm concerned and her near-hysterics when trying to talk about it are breaking my heart.
Thank you in advance.View Thread

Before getting in to speak with our daughter's physician about her obsession with her weight, she caught the flu bug that was going around....or so we thought. She had some vomitting and complained of stomach pains, but she had an ongoing fever that would come for a few days, then go away, then come back. We couldn't get her to eat and she was sleeping all the time.
DH took her to see the physician for her fever, fatigue and stomach pains - they did a urine analysis, strep culture, blood work for mono & a stomach x-ray. It turns out she was severly constipated (I believe due to her sudden diet changes) - so much so that it was causing the fever (usually around 102.5), fatigue and stomach pains. She is now on Mirolax for 2 months and limited to 1-2 cups of dairy per day. She has been feeling better since DH took her to the doctor - I saw her run last week for the first time in a month and I almost cried with relief.
This past weekend she started talking about exercising again, but I will say she has been better about the food aspect of her "diet." They are doing a "Keep Moving" unit at school right now, so I think that is contributing to her exercise talk.
She did lose weight throughout this ordeal, due to her weight obsession and then her illness, but is still at a healthy weight. We are going to keep working with her and the physician (who told us to call any time - they were also concerned) to make sure she stays healthy, but I have to say this has been one of the most trying things I've gone through as a parent.View Thread

Thanks, Dr. Tiongson, for the great ideas. My daughter is very curious by nature, so she is not letting this weight thing go. She disects every piece of food we put in front of her - asking what's healthy, and if it's not healthy, she asks why it's not. We also keep telling her that treats are okay - in moderation (but we've found many treats that are quite healthy - mainly fruit-based). I like that she's curious and wants to learn, and she is accepting our "all things in moderation" policy.
I think I will make an appointment with her pediatrician to discuss this issue further, and perhaps ask for her help in monitoring this situation to make sure our kids stay on the right track.
Thanks again!View Thread
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