Any good weight loss programs for kids?

My middle daughter, who is 10, is really starting to worry me. I thought with her seeing the horror i went through both being smo and my complications from my surgery, that she would want to turn everything around. But i honestly think she thinks that it's okay cause one day she can have wls....She is the true drama queen and does everything for attention, including making up stories that are total lies. Any way i noticed i've started acting different to her and i am trying not to. She acts like she hates me for being the food police, the other two girls aren't overweight at all, one is actually underweight. There are no bad foods in the house, i don't buy it. She steals food when nobody is looking and even gets up in the middle of the night and eats too. So i have come to the conclusion that i need to get her help now. She is 5 foot and weighs 150 pounds. I want a program she can understand, one with counseling and food restrictions. I don't care what it costs , my insurance will pay it 100% . So any ideas as to where? Hugs Linda

U of M has a new pediatric weight loss clinic..if u want pm me and I can give you the website tomorrow from work.. SHannon

Thanks Shanon. I just googled it and found the site, but it sounds like it's more for teenagers, i'll check it out. I was very shocked to see that they perform wls on 13 years and older, i thought you had to be 18. Anyway the program sounds great, counseling, nutritionist, exercise and a good diet. I'll check into it more Hugs Linda

http://www.med.umich.edu/mpower/index.shtml Linda- They will do surgery on a teeenager only after extensive workup, dieting, exercising, counseling etc etc.... Very good program- even to just try and lose weight... SHannon

Linda, Although I can't recommend a specific program, I just wanted to let you know I feel for you. My son is 12 and I thought the same thing....that he would never want to end up like me. He is fortunate enough to have not inherited my "fat genes" so he's not overweight, but he's totally addicted to fast food. We're working on it with him, but he is starting to look to food for comfort just like I did at that age. It's not easy to raise your kids when you see them heading down the same road we went. I think you're so smart and a great parent to recognize your daughters struggle and get her help she needs. On another note, I totally believe in the UMHS. My older son has Prader-Willi Syndrome, and they have helped him and us so much. I also had my WLS there, and the progam is first rate. I will only go to U of M with my kids, I trust them completely. http://www.pwsausa.org Good Luck to you and your daughter. She will thank you for caring enough to get help when she's older. Brenda

i'm going to look into that. I know she will thank me later, but i just feel bad for her. The kids aren't messing with her yet, but i know they will. I don't want to hound her, but someone has to watch her. Hugs Linda

I am glad you posted this Linda. I have an 11 year old son that is going through the same thing. He steals food too. I try to let him enjoy things that kids like to eat once in awhile, but if he has mostly healthy foods around, he seems to stick to the carby ones! I can't seem to get him moving either. He does not want to excersize at all and he is quite heavy now. I am worried too. But I can't afford a weight loss program, so I am going to have him enter the essay contest that OH is advertising for the camp this summer. I may even pay for him to go if I have to. We will see. Wendy

You know exactly how i feel. Mine doesn't want to get up and get moving either, all she wants is to lay around and eat . I hoola hoop with her sometimes, i take her walking, and i try to lay out a good food plan for her. i do let her enjoy the goodies on occasion, but it seems like she takes advantage of that. I'm scared for her, i have to get her to see this for what it is. Thanks for your reply Hugs Linda

I my self have a 10 year old that is 5 3 and she weights 148. But at one time she was 160. I am not sure about your daughter but we found that she was an emotional eater. First I would check with her doctor to see what he/she would do. I know how you treat her different. I found myself doing the same when she weighted 160. But with what you have gone through you are only trying to safe her. Anyway it might do her some good to see someone that specilizes in eating disorders. Let me know how you and her are doing.....

My daughter is probably an emotional eater, but then again she just loves food. Its the only thing she thinks about. Her pcp is a jerk, the same doc i have. He wants her to come to him monthly and that's it, no counseling , nothing. He wouldn't even check her thyroid levels or any blood tests. He used to be great, but has now changed into being a money hungry doc. I need to look into a new pcp for all of us, but i'm wondering if i should look for adult or pediatric for her. Hugs Linda