My partners daughter is 10 years old and obese. Help?

Question

My partner's daughter is 10 years old and we are both extremely concerned about her weight. Today I had to buy her size 16 bathers and only 6 months or so ago she was in a size 12! We have her on shared custody, week on/week off. Due to a potential for further health problems down the track I have a very healthy lifestyle and exercise regularly. While my partners daughter is with us she has very healthy food but will get up during the night and steal the occassional treats in the house and eat them. Last Xmas it was a large block of chocolate for a friends child. I have heard her state that while at her Mum's she will eat a whole pizza to herself! It is impossible to talk to her mother as she has mental health problems. I also cannot get my partners daughter interested in exercise and there are no sporting activities through her school. My partner and I also both work full time, limiting our ability to do things with her after school.

Answer 1

well think of things she enjoys, or try and make something fun. you could say were going to go to the park or walk the dog or something. for the food get her favourite foods and make them healthy, like pizza instead of cheese and tomato make a vegetable one- she probably wont no the difference and you CAN get healthy chocolate it might be hard to find in the shops but if tastes nice and its for her own good. and about when she is with her mum, you obviously care about this girl enough to want to help her, talk to social services if her mum has mental problems and if effecting her health she shouldn't be able to look after her.

Answer 2

This is really really hard i havent got a child like it but my mum goes through the same thing everyday my Sister is 12 and is a size 16/18 my mum has done everyting in her power to sort it out!! have you tried taking her to the Doctors for them to refer her to a diet specialist or refer her to someone that can help with any issues she may have which could be causing this!! my sister also had some kind of growth tests done to see if there was anything wrong why she needed to eat so much!!! in some areas there are schemes for people to go to the gym for free or less money if they have health issues including being over weight could you not go to the gym or swimming or something in the evening i know its easier said then done but it could be good for bonding aswell if you need it or not!!! my sister had loads of trouble at school because of her weight since she started school my mum has just changed her school and she seems alot better in herself and seems to want and try abit more now but you can go on like that forever!!!!

Answer 3

size 16 in girls is NORMAL for a 10 yr old...

unless you mean in ladies/junior sizes...

if its in girl sizes its FINE!!!

Answer 4

My partner's daughter is 10 years old and we are both extremely concerned about her weight. Today I had to buy her size 16 bathers and only 6 months or so ago she was in a size 12! We have her on shared custody, week on/week off. Due to a potential for further health problems down the track I have a very healthy lifestyle and exercise regularly. While my partners daughter is with us she has very healthy food but will get up during the night and steal the occassional treats in the house and eat them. Last Xmas it was a large block of chocolate for a friends child. I have heard her state that while at her Mum's she will eat a whole pizza to herself! It is impossible to talk to her mother as she has mental health problems. I also cannot get my partners daughter interested in exercise and there are no sporting activities through her school. My partner and I also both work full time, limiting our ability to do things with her after school.

Answer 5

Number one, this child is your partner's responsibility.  Number two who says she's Obese?  Has she been diagnosed by a doctor?  Number three, if you don't want her getting up and getting "treats" in the middle of the night don't bring them into the home and put them where she can find them then.  As for what she does at her mother's that is between your partner and her mother, you have no right to tell her mother how to raise her child.

Answer 6

I say leave her be.  Have one last talk with her about your concern and let her know you'll be there for her when she's ready to start losing weight.  Until then, back off.  The more you nag her, the worse you're going to make it!

Answer 7

You have to decide wether you want to go for full custody or not....there is no way you can help the child loose weight with the situation as it is....if you were to go to court, you would probably get full custody for the childs health....

Answer 8

First of all, is she really "obese" or is she just kind of fat? A regular pediatrician can tell you this, and you should probably make a couple of appointments with her doctor in order to get some recommendations.

Then, remove all the junk food from the household, and evaluate whether or not the meals the family is eating are actually "healthy"; again, a doctor can help you a great deal with figuring this out.

Finally, there are special gyms and gym programs just for kids; try to get her enrolled in one of those. She probably won't like it at first, but you're the parent and you can force her to go. It is perfectly within your rights to force her to exercise, whether it be enrolling her in a dance class, going swimming, riding a bike, or going to the gym. She may complain, but it will be 100% better for her in the long run.

Answer 9

her health should b one of your major priorty .. try starting a health program..get rid of all unhealhty junk food.. and for her to lose weight she has to start exercising.. maybe her school bus could drop her off at a fitness health center for kids where she can join a camp or program that will keep her active... also .hav a talk wit all the adults/guardians in her life... it should b a group effort.. good luck