My 14 year old son

[Kimber64]

When my son was a baby he was allergic to formula, everyone available was tried but still he kept getting sick. He was 5 mo. old and still sick from any formula he was given. I started giving him whole milk and cereal and he was able to keep it down and started gaining weight. However, no matter what baby food I would give him, with the exception of tootie fruitie, he would spit it out. No matter what foods I prepared for him he would spit it out. He refused to eat food regardless of how it was prepared or what it was. At the age of 2 my babysitter called me excited that he had ate a chicken nugget, first food ever to eat. I just knew it was a beginning to him actually eating food, as his Doc kept saying he would out grow it. The second food was cheese pizza, then french frys. These are the main foods he eats until this day at age 14. I have to admit I finally gave into it after trying numerous things the Doc's suggested. One being, when he was 6, just put food in front of him, breakfast, lunch and dinner, if he does not eat it then so be it. I did do this for 8 days and he would not eat. I did give him juice, water, milk but with no food on his stomach after 8 days he started throwing up the fluids and also lost weight, he was not over weight at age 6. I did not like that he was getting so sick so of course I fed him what he would eat. He does take a vitamin daily.  I am concerned about his health due to the foods that he eats. My friends and family have given me a hard time about this. I need to do something to help him. He is overweight now but not morbidly obese. He is 5'8' and about 180lbs. His Dad and Uncle are both 6'3" with the potential to be as big as 285 but as small as 195. Until this day when I take him to his pediatrician, he states it is not good for his health but shruges his shoulders as though it is no big deal.  I am going to take him to another pediatrician, however he has been to one all his life and all I ever heard is he will outgrow it or his vitals are all good. Any help would be appreciated. Thank you, Kimberly

[AnnieBrooke]

I was thinking of having your son talk to the dietician, not you.  He's old enough to be concerned about his own health, rather than having mama yammer in his ear (sorry, but to a teenager, mama talking does most of the time sound like yammering in his ear).  If a professional who is empathetic talks to him about his issues with food, he might listen, particularly if the professional does not sound exactly like you.

Yes, it might be a sensory thing, but jeez, the kid is 14, not 14 months or 4 years old.  Again, if that is it (I'd hold open the possibility), he should be the primary investigator of the issue, rather than you.  Get him in to see the right people, outline your idea of what may be happening, then step out and let him start to be an autonomous individual dealing with his own health.

[Kimber64]

Thank you for your comments!! I spoke with a dietician and I was informed they do not deal with eating problems other than they can help with what food groups he should be eating, which I already know. I have been a manager in weight loss and worked at some fitness centers. I have a good understanding of health and nutrition. And yes I have taken him to the grocery store with me numerous times, allowing him to pick out healthy foods he will try. He does try the foods but always ends up spitting them out saying they taste nasty. Thoughout his life he has tried just about everything but always thinks it is nasty. We were going to the Y for 3 yrs consistantly and he plays baseball every year but he still seems to keep the weight in his gut. We have not been a good with the excercise lately as I had surgery on my vocal cords. I will get him back into it. Hopefully he will make the baseball team this year in school.  I do continue to get him to try different foods on a regular basis. I have read he could have a sensory problem and still searching for more info. Thanks again

[margypops]

hi Kimberly.. I think a second opinion is always good and certainly a dietetian would help.,there is so much talk about weight nowadays I often think it creates more anxiety in children and we will in my opinion have more eating disorders in the future . I have never thought that some chicken nuggets too bad for a child obviously one is not going to give them all the time., .How about you take him shopping with you, let him choose some foods he would like tell him they have to be reasonable healthy. and get him involved in the preparation of the meals . I am a beliver in healthy exercise for all children so maybe getting moving his body more that will help with the weight and get him focused on something positive.

[AnnieBrooke]

I'd talk to an allergist and a dietician, not just a pediatrician.