Topic : 06/04 Too Big, Too Young

I won't defend how this mother is dealing with this child but I have the PCOS ( polycystic ovarion disease ) and it is VERY hard to loose any weight I work out 3 to 4 times a week , I walk and eat right most of the time its a very hard disease to manage weight with and the mother is not helping from the looks of it . They should consider putting her on Metformin an oral insulin it is suppose to help with weight loss ( I tried it for 3 years ) but mine went 15 years before it was caught so mine is unable to be managed ... Its an auto immune disease and I feel for this child and yelling at the mother won't help , taking the child away so she suffers depression won't help .

This is a blood test I took about 9 years ago, because I was getting random stomache aches.  And now, whenever I have symptoms, I just need to think back to what foods were on my "avoid" and "eliminate" food lists and compare it with the ingredient lists in my foods and I usually have my answer.   I read about this test in a book entitled, "Your Hidden Food Allergies Are Making You Fat."  If I had an obese child, this would be one of the first things I would try.  It was a very interesting book and I would highly recommend this simple blood test. 

I know that it is difficult to control or even influence the teenage kids....but with the younger kids, perhaps the parents and grandparents could easily rotate the foods within the rules of the results of this test because eventually the younger kids will eat something healthy that is served to them and they would not have jobs and transportation to get the foods that their relatives didn't provide.

Best wishes to all who are struggling and especially with older kids.  I didn't have this problem with my daughter, but my heart really goes out to the parents and their kids.  I hope that the collective wisdom, suggestions, and options offered by reading this message board will prove to be encouraging and motivational.  Blessings to you all!

Hello Dr Phil,

Watched your show today and I thought you were very effective. However, as soon as it was commercial break, I saw I-Hop with lots of pancacks and syrup and other sinful hi calorie food. I also saw a burger fast food clip and a Pizza advertisement. So it seems contridictory. Can't you control this? If not then how can you be separated from these sponsors?

Mary-Jane

Yes I do understand that everyone is different, because everyone has different metibolic rates.   And if the average person *does* gain weight after quitting smoking then they have to move more and eat less.    You've already explained it's simple mathmatics.  So one would need to apply it, wouldn't they?

I too have seen many shows on TLC, Discovery, PBS, etc on weight loss and obesity.  Doctors say what the patients say they're eating and how much they're eating is leaps and bounds away from what and how much they're actually eating.   And moving.  They say it's common for patients to lie and exagerate, because they don't want to be blamed.     Also the people you talk about on the PBS show are not most people.   Most people are obese because they have a lifestyle that supports it.    I'm sure it was wonderful being 110lbs at 5'5' till you were 46.   Since you're constantly defending being overweight,   I'm guessing you're no longer that size.   If walking each day and your *usual* workout didn't change anything, then you need to do something different.   But of course you know that. 

Quite Surprised - Doctor Phil missed important Issue

I have watched the Dr Phil show for a number of years and have always sided with his observations and recommendations....however on todays show - overweight teens - I was surprised that he did not pick up on the fact that the mother may be living her life vicariously  through her daughter....the mother was suffering on the show (I believe the family unit is being influenced because of the mothers issues) IE where is the father...what is there financial situation etc....The mother was hurting and Doctor Phil seemed to not pick up on that fact - which is not like him to miss the obvious...I think the mother has her own issues and it should be brought to light...She may be punishing this child or giving it all to this child due to a failed relationship with the Father???I don't know and I can only speculate on the mothers issue(s) - but Doctor Phil did not acknowledge her pain - deal with the matriarch and you invariably you will heal the family unit.

Sincerely,

JimB