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Daughters weight gradually gaining not sure why
My daughter was diagnosed as obese at her 11 birthday checkup she was 4'11 and 135 pounds we changed lifestyles, family workouts and healthier foods. But now she is almost 13 5'2 and nearly 170 pounds I'm sure there has to be another reason for her constant weight gain but every doctor we go to just lowers her self esteem and gives up more heath pan flits
Please help I am a very worried mother
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Most of traditional medicine these days is only set up to treat symptoms but not necessarily the cause. Humans can have issues physically, mentally and or spiritually and that last part doesn't refer to religious beliefs but what builds ones spirit or breaks it, etc.
I don't know what she was eating or exercise before your lifestyle changes, nor what the changes actually were. The changes may be good and work on some people but may not still be the best for her body type. There is a method of medical study called Ayurvedic medicine, originally from east Indian roots. There are 3 basic body types, (dosha's as they call it) and eating the wrong kind of food, even if good food, is not good for some body types.
For example, I have taken a quiz on line and also in a book from the library on the subject. I am a Vatta type and if I eat lots of raw veggies, I am going to have problems. Apparently my body type can't process that as well so I have to stick with mostly cooked veggies for example. It may take studying this and discovering what works better for her. Or rather than studying and trying to figure it out yourselves, try finding an Ayurvedic Dr. a Naturopathtic Dr. or even something like integrated medicine where the physician believes in a combo of natural methods along with conventional medicine. Seeing only a dietician who is versed in only conventional medicine will not get you any extra information or things to try. The different body types also require differing amounts of exercise, so what keeps off the weight for you or hubby may not work for her body type, she may need more. Finding the right Dr. is key but you can do a lot of research on your own if insurance won't cover. Integrated Drs are very few but I believe most will take some kind of insurance. For the North end of the big city I live in, there is only 2 and one is more like mid city heading south. So integrated Drs. may be best option, but you may have to settle for some travel to the right Dr. This is all I can think of other than her being at puberty age. The hormones can bring on weight gain but not to point of obesity unless something else is causing it. If she is truly in puberty, breast growth, the emotions, and pre period or already starting hers, this may be a good time to ask a Dr. to check her hormone levels. Too often these days, hormones can run too low or too high. Often for females, it can run too high. Dr.s can give some medication for just the teen years until she is out of puberty where hormone levels usually go back to normal. I don't know if weight gain is an affect of that but its worth checking. I do know that too high levels of hormones have brought on depression in girls or behavioral problems like angry all the time. You may not see this now but as I said, worth checking everything that can be checked. Good luck.
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Hiya! Dr.D here!
Good day to you. And your daughter. You question why she is gaining weight from no where though. Now she could have a disease, possibly hypothyroidism, or cushing's syndrome. Or this could be the result of depression. Easy way to tell is if she has become more secluded, less social, or more quiet. But the diseases are only potential, but it does sound like your daughter could be experiencing phase 1 of depression. Secretly eating more when you arent paying attention.
For the diseases, the only way to find out if your daughter has them(which I doubt) bring them up with your doctor, or your should try to talk to a gastroenterologist.
As depression goes, talk to her. Find out what she does through the day, keep communication strong, and give her things that will make her happy.
I hope I helped, I wish you and your daughter good luck!
-Dr.D
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I am not a doctor so I cannot make a diagnoses. I am a parent and like you I cannot be watching my child 24 hours a day. It is very possible that when she is not in you line of sight she is sneaking food. The question now becomes why does she do this?
My thoughts lean towards depression. Yes children her age do suffer from depression and depression is the primary reason for teenage suicide. There are probably multiple causes for her depression that she probably will not discuss with you.
I believe the proper course of action for you to take at this time would be to meet with a child psychiatrist for a proper evaluation to see if she is suffering from teenage depression. Your family doctor is not qualified to do this. You also want to find a psychiatrist who is Board Certified as they have the best training in psychiatry.
After the psychiatrist evaluates your daughter the suggestion most likely will be follow up talk therapy with a child psychologist. What is important in selecting a psychologist is that your daughter be comfortable with the him or her. If she is not the therapy won't work for she has to be comfortable enough with the therapist to open up and tell him or her why she feels the way she does to the root cause of her problem.
NO matter how much you may like the therapist if she does not you need to find her a new one. Also what ever she and the therapist discuss is confidential it has to be for the therapy to work. The therapist will never tell you what was said but will tell you what you need to do to support your daughter. Please do not ask your daughter to tell you what went on in therapy. It must be her decision to tell you or not.
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