Has your child (10-12 yrs old) lost a significant amount of weight & kept it off?

[umsami]

If so, what did s/he do to lose the weight?

 

DS has had satiety issues since birth.  I've spoken to numerous pediatricians, and they all tell me to encourage fruits and veggies. limit sweets, etc.  Which we've done. This kid loves fruit and pretty much every vegetable on earth.  He never drinks soda or juice, and prefers milk or water.  He walks on the treadmill for two hours/day.

 

Yet, his weight continues to go up.  He's in a size 18/20 shorts from the uniform store.  It is extremely difficult to buy him pants because of his large tummy/short stature (compared to his waist size).  He doesn't like being teased.

 

We've been doing 2-3 days low carb per week for the past month, and it has made no difference.  

 

Help!  His other siblings are naturally thin and eat a lot worse, which bothers DS.

 

Oh…and yes…I was on abx when he was born, which could play a part.  We've even considered a fecal transplant if that would help.  

[SpecialClassical]

I'm so sorry. I don't have any answers for you, but I understand. We have a similar situation. I get so tired of the, "Eat veggies and fruits, keep them active" mantra. If only it were that simple. I am trying to help mine understand that healthy doesn't necessarily mean thin. Just keep focusing on health. Maybe a specialist could evaluate him? Poor guy. Good luck!

[Cera]

How many calories doe he take in per day.  It sounds counterintuitive but it is possible he is getting too much exercise.  It is also possible he is taking in way too many calories (fruit can be very high cal).  My third thought would be to test his thyroid.

[fraidycat]

Veggies and fruits are NOT filling. Fats are what satiates a person.

 

Coconut oil, olive oil, butter, nut butters, macadamia nuts, avocados, etc. He needs these with every meal and snack. And contrary to popular belief, GOOD fats are not fattening.

[hornblower]

nm

[VeteranMom]

It sounds like you are doing quite a bit to help him keep his weight within a normal range.  I'd be asking for the doctors to investigate.  

[Farrar]

When it's one kid in a family and that child is getting extra support for his/her diet, it does seem like it's more likely to be something medical... But I'm sure you've really explored that.

[poppy]

I lost a lot of weight, and kept it off, with exercise around puberty age.

I did it on a vegetarian, high fiber diet.

I'm not saying the people pushing the trendy diet du jour are wrong, necessarily, but it isn't the answer for everyone. Or even most people, IMO.

 

I personally would suggest more effective workouts as a possibility.  Two hours on the treadmill is so much if it isn't making a difference..

 

 

[Jean in Newcastle]

I would take him to an endocrinologist.  If he needs to lose a significant amount of weight he might be diabetic or pre-diabetic.  If so, he made need a hypoglycemic to control his bloodsugar before he is even able to lose weight.  

[wapiti]

You probably already have done so, but I would want basic bloodwork, including thyroid and so forth.

 

Since you mentioned your concern about antibiotics and the controversial fecal transplant, have you tried addressing gut issues from a less extreme angle, such as lots of probiotics, prebiotics, other supplements etc? It sounds like you are hinting at a nonspecific autoimmune or digestive issue? (I am with you on this, BTW, but I'd have to think about whether I've seen anything along these lines that would explain this situation...)

 

I agree with arctic mama above that it may be better to decide how low you want him to go on carbs and keep to the same level every day (I have a hard time imagining a kid going all the way down to ketosis as in below 50 - I would probably try staying around 150 for a bit to see how it goes). I would switch out some of the fruit for fats and I would avoid fruit in the morning.

[fraidycat]

I lost a lot of weight, and kept it off, with exercise around puberty age.

I did it on a vegetarian, high fiber diet.

I'm not saying the people pushing the trendy diet du jour are wrong, necessarily, but it isn't the answer for everyone. Or even most people, IMO.

 

I personally would suggest more effective workouts as a possibility. Two hours on the treadmill is so much if it isn't making a difference..

It is not "diet du jour", it is scientifically proven. We need fat to thrive. Period.

 

http://www.hsph.harvard.edu/nutritionsource/fats-full-story/

 

I disagree with their "recommended fats" for the most part, except avocado. But fat is not the bad guy.

[LisaKinVA]

I have to regulate fruit intake at my house. Even though fresh fruits are better than canned or juice, they are high sugar/calorie.

 

What we did was switch to full fat, first. Good fats.

Then, I limited fruit, eliminated juice, drastically reduced milk consumption--replaced milk with whole milk yogurt, cheese, cottage cheese. Candy/sweets aren't in my house ready to consume. We increased easy to consume veggies for snacking, and I kept homemade ranch dressing to let them dip whenever. Fruit was served as an intentional snack with nut butters, cheese or yogurt.

Next, we started milling our own flours, and turned bread/grains into a side vs. A staple.

 

What we found was my kids actually ate less food after these changes. I have 5 kids... We typically go through 3-4 liters of milk a week (used to be 3-4 gallons), 1-1.5 medium loaves of bread (used to be 3-4).

 

We increased exercise, but nothing dramatic. Other than swimming, which was never intense for younger son, we did The Shred daily...or ran/walked a mile...diet did most of the work.

 

None of my children have ever been more than 10-15 pounds overweight, though. If I had one child so obviously different from the rest, I would be looking into underlying health issues.

[maize]

Are any adults in the family overweight? He might just have a different gene combination than your other kids. Of my five sisters and I, we all grew up thin to normal weight but one--and that one just put on/kept on weight more easily from day one. She's built differently from the rest of us and metabolizes food differently. She was always a healthy eater (better than me...)

 

She is more physically active and eats a better diet as an adult than I do, but weighs significantly more.

 

I don't know the answer. If your son is motivated to lose weight, I would be inclined to try more protein/healthy fats, and yes, get him checked for thyroid and blood sugar issues.

[Aelwydd]

Veggies and fruits are NOT filling. Fats are what satiates a person.

 

Coconut oil, olive oil, butter, nut butters, macadamia nuts, avocados, etc. He needs these with every meal and snack. And contrary to popular belief, GOOD fats are not fattening.

Yes, I second this. And make milk a rare treat. It actually can induce mild acidosis, an inflammatory process that affects digestion and gut flora. Milk also has sugar in it. And furthermore, all humans lose 97 to 99% of their body's ability to produce lactase, an enzyme that breaks down lactose, the sugar in milk, by about age 3 (I learned this in A & P). So, all humans are largely lactose intolerant, just some retain a enough lactase to process more of it than others. Drinking or eating too much dairy can contribute to digestive issues, and by proxy, weight issues.

 

My 11 yo ds eats a mostly Asian diet, as dh prepares a lot of vegetarian Indonesian and Thai dishes. So, I'm totally with you on eating veggies and fruits. But, your ds needs high quality fats and proteins to help him build muscle and bone. He should be on a good probiotic to help eliminate retained fluid and toxins.

 

Ds also plays ice hockey and is progressing through his Taekwondo levels. Not that treadmill exercise isn't good, but it's not very dynamic exercise, doesn't build explosive power, or the kind of core muscle that helps burn fat. I would consider putting him into an athletic activity that requires physical training beyond cardio alone.

[Joyofsixreboot]

I would take him to an endocrinologist. If he needs to lose a significant amount of weight he might be diabetic or pre-diabetic. If so, he made need a hypoglycemic to control his bloodsugar before he is even able to lose weight.

Agree

[kewb]

My Dd has been top of the chart for weight and height since she has been a baby. Her pediatrician and I have discussed this since she was a toddler. My pediatrician takes the stance that every body is different. Looking at my daughter's growth chart the height and weight gain has always been consistent. She would be more concerned if it was not in proportion. I have had her thyroid function checked annually since she turned 11 and have seen endocrinologists.

She is a competitive swimmer and gets plenty of exercise. We eat a diet full of good fats. I mill my own flour. Junk food is very limited. She does eat more fruit then veggies which is an area we are working on.

She is never full. The amount of physical activity she has to do to maintain her weight vs her brother who is built entirely different has been a source of frustration for her.

We focus on being healthy and active and not weight because every one is built differently and weight is just a number. Weight does not define who you are as a person.

[kiana]

Honestly, I'd start by tracking (and weighing) everything he eats and drinks for at least a week using a tool like myfitnesspal to look for patterns. Get some baseline data on what he's actually eating *now* before you start experimenting.

 

Agree with others that going on and off low-carb is not a good idea.

[MIch elle]

Yes and no. 

 

Eldest ds was chubby at those ages & he grew to over 6 ft. so no weight loss just not much wt. gain while "stretching" out (now 20yo, 6'2" 184lbs).  Younger ds was chubby at that age.  He lost 20lbs between ages 12-14 while growing at little.  He's now 17yo,  5'8",145lbs.

 

Yes, limit the sugar/carbs in the diet!  We NEVER restricted food just WHAT food was in the house.

[umsami]

Consider a like for your posts above (I ran out).

 

He does not eat a lot of fruit…max two pieces/day.

We switched to full fat dairy 2-3 years ago.  I haven't noticed a difference, but I'm not going back to low fat.  (Of course, his pediatrician is still on the low-fat mantra, which I ignore.)

 

The pediatric endocrinologist is suggesting trying metformin.  His blood glucose levels are fine (thankfully)…but there are some studies which show that it may lead to a small reduction in BMI.  I'm not sure that I'm willing to put him on a lifetime drug at 10, almost 11.  I'm really struggling with this. I also wonder if he doesn't have blood glucose issues, what could the repercussions of being on metformin for awhile and then going off of it.

 

There's also some clinical trials going on with kids like him, but it's more to sequence his DNA….they don't have any answers/suggestions.

 

Yes, I've had weight issues all my life, two bariatric surgeries, etc.  I do not wish that for him.  I always thought if I had never gotten on the diet roller coaster, I never would have gotten to the point of needing bariatric surgery.  Yet, he's much larger, much earlier than I ever was.

 

We are trying not to focus on actual weight, but are looking at measuring his waist size as a way to gauge progress.  We tried to limit weight gain over the past year, but he gained 5 pounds regardless….yet more worrisome, his waist size went up 4 inches.  Doesn't make sense to me.  5 pounds should not equal a 4 inch increase in waist.

 

Thanks for all the thoughts/advice.

[umsami]

The reason for the limited low carb was a study out of the UK that showed two days per week lead to better blood glucose control as well as weight loss.  Better than if participants had followed a full time low calorie diet.   We go down to 50 carbs on those days.  

[Joyofsixreboot]

Another thought, does he eat for reasons besides hunger?  In myself, eating has nothing to do with actual hunger.  I enjoy the act of eating. I find it soothing and once I start stopping is hard.  I actually do better not to start so try to keep it to meals period.  That is harder with kids BUT many cultures don't snack, and no one seems worse the wear.  Could he be eating more than necessary, even if it is healthy food, for reasons other than hunger.

[kewb]

 

 

We are trying not to focus on actual weight, but are looking at measuring his waist size as a way to gauge progress.  We tried to limit weight gain over the past year, but he gained 5 pounds regardless….yet more worrisome, his waist size went up 4 inches.  Doesn't make sense to me.  5 pounds should not equal a 4 inch increase in waist.

 

Thanks for all the thoughts/advice.

 

How much height did he gain with that 5lb increase?  He is growing and his body is changing, his weight will reflect that.

[Pawz4me]

Both of my boys were slim as youngsters and got chubby in the pre-teen years.  They both wore husky sized jeans as pre-teens.  At puberty they both slimmed down dramatically.

 

Oldest went from husky sized jeans to slim sized even though he didn't gain much height (he's short like me).  He also took up distance running in that same time period, so I'm sure that played a big role.  His body changed dramatically.  Even though he didn't get all that much taller, he developed a lot of muscle.

 

Youngest grew a lot more (takes after DH) and he went from a husky size fitting well to a regular size being a little loose.  He actually did lose weight w/o any effort (about 20 pounds, I think).  But he's not nearly as muscular as his brother.  I think going back to public school for high school helped him with that (kept him a lot busier and away from home so less easy access to food all the time).

[DawnM]

I have one of these.  My 10 year old is over 100 pounds.   

 

He is my adopted child and was said to be Chinese, but he was from Inner Mongolia and he really has more Mongolian features than Chinese, but there is no way to tell for sure.

 

He was 2.5 when we adopted him.  We were told he would probably fit in size 1 clothing or maybe 18 month clothing as Chinese babies are typically smaller, particularly when they are orphaned.   When I got there, I found out he was a size 3T or larger AND weighed 37 pounds already!    I had to go shopping for clothing the first day and give the clothing I brought away.

 

He is just built larger.  

 

He exercises daily, loves fruit and vegetables and will chose those over dessert many times if given a choice.  

 

Really, we don't know what else to do.

[mamaraby]

The pediatric endocrinologist is suggesting trying metformin. His blood glucose levels are fine (thankfully)…but there are some studies which show that it may lead to a small reduction in BMI. I'm not sure that I'm willing to put him on a lifetime drug at 10, almost 11. I'm really struggling with this. I also wonder if he doesn't have blood glucose issues, what could the repercussions of being on metformin for awhile and then going off of it.

Metformin doesn't have to be for life. Back when I had secondary infertility due to PCOS, I took metformin for awhile. I'm not on it now and there are not any lasting effects. It would be a fairly low risk intervention that might help get things moving for him. Losing that weight now and getting to where he can establish habits to help maintain a healthy weight would be much easier now than when he gets older. Have they suggested seeing a nutritionist?

[redsquirrel]

So, you are working with a pediatric endocrinologist, are you also seeing a nutritionist? It seems like they would go hand in hand, if only to help with managing meds etc. 

 

This must be so hard for both of you. I imagine he feels judged and not believed that he is managing his food, and I imagine you feel the same.

 

http://well.blogs.nytimes.com/2014/09/24/teenagers-and-weight-loss/?_php=true&_type=blogs&module=BlogPost-Title&version=Blog%20Main&contentCollection=Dieting%20and%20Weight&action=Click&pgtype=Blogs&region=Body&_r=0

 

This article about some recent studies seems to show that adding in some resistance training might also help. I grew up being told that kids should not engage in resistance training, but then my son's PT told me that was outdated. As long as kids are working safely it should be ok. And some really like it.

[Spryte]

Not sure this will be helpful, as you've already got such excellent advice, but I thought I'd share my DS's story, in case it sparks an idea.

 

DS gained a lot of weight very quickly when he was 8 or so.  Looking back at pictures, we are always shocked at how round he looked.  He regularly sees an allergist, and she did some extra allergy testing - not for the weight gain, but because it was just time for some new tests.  We were astounded to see that he had developed new allergies.  IgE-mediated allergies, to boot.  We did some food challenges, and determined that he could keep eating some of the substances, but two of them - dairy and wheat - were exacerbating his asthma.  So DS, who had always been a milk and water drinker, had to go dairy free.  And gluten free.  Wow.  The weight fell off.  Fast.  I don't know if the weight change was simply due to less calories (less milk?  more water?), but I suspect not. His calorie intake really stayed about the same, I think, perhaps with the exception of milk.  The weight has stayed off.  He's an average, typical healthy weight now.

 

In fact, he's gotten 3 summers out of the clothes he wore that summer that he was round.  That sounds so strange, doesn't it?  Now the clothes just fit better. I expect that this next summer, I'll need to buy more clothes - but other than replacing what was worn out, he wore the same size for 3 summers - they just fit differently (like he grew into the length, if that makes sense).  

 

Your guy might not have allergies, of course.  But it could be worth looking into, if you don't turn up any other ideas.

 

If you do pursue the fecal transplant, would you be up for comparing notes on that via pm or on the board?  I am considering it as well, for GI health reasons, and it would be great to compare notes on how to do it.  The doc has me considering who to ask to be a donor at the moment, and I've stalled out on that part. It's hard to imagine asking someone to donate.  :blushing: In your case, though, the other kids who don't have the same issues would be a good choice!

[Twigs]

…

 

Can I recommend this series as a starting point if you would like more information that might help in dietary choices for your kiddo?

http://intensivedietarymanagement.com/category/lectures/the-aetiology-of-obesity-lecture-series/

 

The lecture on the Aetiology of Obesity is phenomenal and Dr. Fung doesn't assume his audience has prior knowledge - he builds his premise very carefully and clearly.

Arctic Mama,

Thank you so much for sharing this link. I just went to check out the site and ended up watching the 1st lecture (& I have other things to do!). This is an excellent resource!

[LisaKinVA]

/

 

 

 

This article about some recent studies seems to show that adding in some resistance training might also help. I grew up being told that kids should not engage in resistance training, but then my son's PT told me that was outdated. As long as kids are working safely it should be ok. And some really like it.

 

 

As long as it is low-weight;hi-rep -- it should be fine.  A growing youth needs to build muscle differently (because as their bones grow, the muscles, etc. lengthen too).  They would prefer a weight -- with good form --3 sets of 12-15, vs. just increasing the weights, which can be too stressful to growing joints, as well as the lengthening muscle/connective tissue.  Weight should be increased gradually, to continue challenging the muscles -- but without adding lots of extra stress.

 

 

[J-rap]

It sounds like you're looking at the medical issues that might be involved, and I think that's the most important starting point.

 

My son is on the paleo diet.  Are you familiar with that?  Some people have lost a lot of weight on this diet, and it is supposed to reduce any inflammations going on as well.  It is mostly veggies, meat and eggs, though you can add some things in as you go.  For the meat, the pure paleo diet recommends only grass-fed meet, and only free-range, organic eggs.  Apparently the fat content is different within those foods, and it's a fat your body can easily handle.  The point of the diet is not to eat less, but to eat the right foods.

 

It's not for everyone, but you could always look into it.  I thought it would be hard to follow, but we often all eat this way now (when our son is here), and it really isn't so difficult afterall.

 

Also, Mayo Clinic has recently linked gluten to some types of diabetes. 

 

 

[umsami]

Not sure this will be helpful, as you've already got such excellent advice, but I thought I'd share my DS's story, in case it sparks an idea.

 

DS gained a lot of weight very quickly when he was 8 or so.  Looking back at pictures, we are always shocked at how round he looked.  He regularly sees an allergist, and she did some extra allergy testing - not for the weight gain, but because it was just time for some new tests.  We were astounded to see that he had developed new allergies.  IgE-mediated allergies, to boot.  We did some food challenges, and determined that he could keep eating some of the substances, but two of them - dairy and wheat - were exacerbating his asthma.  So DS, who had always been a milk and water drinker, had to go dairy free.  And gluten free.  Wow.  The weight fell off.  Fast.  I don't know if the weight change was simply due to less calories (less milk?  more water?), but I suspect not. His calorie intake really stayed about the same, I think, perhaps with the exception of milk.  The weight has stayed off.  He's an average, typical healthy weight now.

 

In fact, he's gotten 3 summers out of the clothes he wore that summer that he was round.  That sounds so strange, doesn't it?  Now the clothes just fit better. I expect that this next summer, I'll need to buy more clothes - but other than replacing what was worn out, he wore the same size for 3 summers - they just fit differently (like he grew into the length, if that makes sense).  

 

Your guy might not have allergies, of course.  But it could be worth looking into, if you don't turn up any other ideas.

 

If you do pursue the fecal transplant, would you be up for comparing notes on that via pm or on the board?  I am considering it as well, for GI health reasons, and it would be great to compare notes on how to do it.  The doc has me considering who to ask to be a donor at the moment, and I've stalled out on that part. It's hard to imagine asking someone to donate.  :blushing: In your case, though, the other kids who don't have the same issues would be a good choice!

 

I wondered about gluten, as another son has issues (as do I), but husky son did not have the genes for celiac, so I kind of let it go.  It's easier for me to cook/bake gluten free at home, so he doesn't get a lot anyway.  I hadn't looked at dairy, though.  

 

It sounds like you're looking at the medical issues that might be involved, and I think that's the most important starting point.

 

My son is on the paleo diet.  Are you familiar with that?  Some people have lost a lot of weight on this diet, and it is supposed to reduce any inflammations going on as well.  It is mostly veggies, meat and eggs, though you can add some things in as you go.  For the meat, the pure paleo diet recommends only grass-fed meet, and only free-range, organic eggs.  Apparently the fat content is different within those foods, and it's a fat your body can easily handle.  The point of the diet is not to eat less, but to eat the right foods.

 

It's not for everyone, but you could always look into it.  I thought it would be hard to follow, but we often all eat this way now (when our son is here), and it really isn't so difficult afterall.

 

Also, Mayo Clinic has recently linked gluten to some types of diabetes. 

 

I've thought about trying paleo for him.  Because I"m gluten-free as is DS2, I don't buy much wheat at home.  We do have some grains though, like brown rice, quinoa, and oatmeal.  Most of my baking is of the coconut/almond flour variety.   I do try and buy organic milk, free range eggs (pastured when I can), and grass-fed beef.  I need to probably be more intentional in trying paleo with him.

 

 

I'm thinking about the metformin.  I think our next appointment is late October/early November.  The regular pediatrician offered to write a note so that he could join Weight Watchers.  Can't see him wanting to go to meetings (required for his age) as we don't have kid or even teen-ones here.

[wapiti]

I'm another one who took metformin for PCOS.  (Now I am not on it - I eat LCHF)

[Spryte]

I wondered about gluten, as another son has issues (as do I), but husky son did not have the genes for celiac, so I kind of let it go.  It's easier for me to cook/bake gluten free at home, so he doesn't get a lot anyway.  I hadn't looked at dairy, though.  

 

 

 

The gluten part surprised me.  I am GF because of Celiac.  But DS doesn't have those genes either. He's actually allergic to wheat itself, so his issue is wheat rather than gluten, but there's so much overlap that it makes it easier on me, too.  :) 

[kitten18]

Another thought, does he eat for reasons besides hunger? In myself, eating has nothing to do with actual hunger. I enjoy the act of eating. I find it soothing and once I start stopping is hard. I actually do better not to start so try to keep it to meals period. That is harder with kids BUT many cultures don't snack, and no one seems worse the wear. Could he be eating more than necessary, even if it is healthy food, for reasons other than hunger.

This is usually related to insulin and other fat storage hormones.

[Katy]

You said he didn't have genes for celiac- so does that mean you've run the genetic tests for weight-based things like a leptin problem too?  And MTHFR gene issues?

 

If you've run all those tests, I'd remove ALL vegetable oils and replace them with saturated fats and omega 3's. Literally, make things with butter, tallow, beef fat, and possibly coconut oil.

 

I'd hesitate to combine metformin with that much exercise.  I can't remember exactly where, but I'm pretty sure at least a few studies have shown metformin and exercise together can be counterproductive.  That much exercise alone should be MORE effective than metformin anyway.

 

I did hear a few days ago that some study had been done on mice using granny smith apples (the sour green ones mostly used for baking). Apparently feeding them to obese mice changed their fecal bacteria profiles to be similar to thin mice.  They credited the indigestible starches in the apples.  The day I read the study DH went and ate a plateful of apple slices with a tablespoon of peanut butter.

[Tess in the Burbs]

This won't be the popular answer but it's honest.  I was putting on the pounds about age 13-14(8th grade).  That summer I went to Outward Bound in NC.  It was the hottest summer on record.  I did the 28 day program. I went b/c I loved the outdoors and wanted to be there.  However....

 

I lost all that extra weight I had been putting on...came back to start high school thin and healthy.  I kept that weight off until college when my thyroid went crazy.  I always wonder if another 28 days in the woods would get me back there where I want to be....

 

But seriously, the intense exercise and limited food made it happen.  I went on scholarship through scouts, so don't let the price scare you.  It's seriously one fun time.  Side benefit: weight loss :-)  I think since it wasn't about the weight it was just a fun time.  

 

So could you do that at home?  Sure, do the exercise...multiple hours a day of challenging working out.  Not just walking on the treadmill but walking uphill with a 60+ pound pack on your back all.day.long.  Limited meals.  But most of us won't challenge ourselves to that extreme on our own.  If he wants to lose the weight i would hire a trainer and get the kid on board with being challenged physically/mentally.  And do it daily until he's where he needs to be.....then find something physical to stay involved with.  

 

 

[Mommyof4ks]

Does he have any allergies? If I eat things I am allergic too, my weight goes up. I do not get hives or rashes, just mainly weight gain.

[wapiti]

 And MTHFR gene issues?

 

This is off-topic, as my ds does not have a weight issue at all (and indeed feels he is too small).  However, he does have intestinal and a heap of other very significant issues and we recently learned that he is compound heterozygous for MTHFR (if I remember correctly, C677 and A1298).  If you have thoughts or resources, I could use some links as I'm more than a bit bewildered here.  (besides that one site, I think it's mthfr.net - I get lost there plus it seems to be controversial, no?  I have enough medical controversy going on already and I need to separate the wheat from the chaff.)

[Katy]

This is off-topic, as my ds does not have a weight issue at all (and indeed feels he is too small).  However, he does have intestinal and a heap of other very significant issues and we recently learned that he is compound heterozygous for MTHFR (if I remember correctly, C677 and A1298).  If you have thoughts or resources, I could use some links as I'm more than a bit bewildered here.  (besides that one site, I think it's mthfr.net - I get lost there plus it seems to be controversial, no?  I have enough medical controversy going on already and I need to separate the wheat from the chaff.)

 

Yeah, I think that site is a bit controversial.  I only recently learned about the gene in my family, so I don't have a whole lot of resources except that it's very important to get methylated B vitamins, not take high doses of regular folic acid.  I'm taking some from Thorne that I got on Amazon.

[Aelwydd]

Consider a like for your posts above (I ran out).

 

He does not eat a lot of fruit…max two pieces/day.

We switched to full fat dairy 2-3 years ago. I haven't noticed a difference, but I'm not going back to low fat. (Of course, his pediatrician is still on the low-fat mantra, which I ignore.)

 

The pediatric endocrinologist is suggesting trying metformin. His blood glucose levels are fine (thankfully)…but there are some studies which show that it may lead to a small reduction in BMI. I'm not sure that I'm willing to put him on a lifetime drug at 10, almost 11. I'm really struggling with this. I also wonder if he doesn't have blood glucose issues, what could the repercussions of being on metformin for awhile and then going off of it.

 

It isn't the fat or lack of it that is the possible source of weight issues. Again, it is the lactose, and the fact that the human body loses 97 percent of its ability to produce lactase by age 3. If the body can't properly digest it, it can cause bloating, retained water, can change the composition of gut flora.

 

That's not even touching the issue of mild acidosis brought on by the particular protein in milk.

 

Both of these factors can contribute to weight gain and glycemic issues.

 

That's why we make milk, cheese, ice cream, etc., an ocassional treat rather than a diet staple. Ds drinks water and iced tea that we make at home (from green teas, black teas, raspberry teas).

 

Before putting your ds on artificial hormones, which is what metformin is, try limiting ALL dairy, and put him in a sport like tennis, jui jitsu, soccer...something that requires anaerobic energy and will build his muscle groups. Muscle burns more calories and naturally increases metabolism.

 

JMO.