Underweight 13 year old boy

ktb

Well thryoid function is easily checked if you wanted to do that... but I guess it has to be balanced with putting ideas in his head unnessessarily about his health & weight? Making him feel more self conscious etc...

does he have any of the other symptoms?

Symptoms

* feeling nervous, irritable or emotional
* tremor (shaking)
* sleeping poorly
* being intolerant of heat and sweating more than usual
* losing weight despite increased appetite (10% of people gain weight)
* feeling tired and having weak muscles
* increased heart rate or palpitations
* having more frequent bowl movements or diarrhoea
* shortness of breath, especially when exercising
* loss of hair or finer hair than usual
* swelling of the thyroid gland in the neck - a goitre

bulchy

Hi ktb, thanks for posting this, I've had to make an earlier appointment at docs, as he came home in a rage today, then got upset. Hes fed up with the other kids and the taunts hes getting for his size, and cant take it any more. At first he said he wasnt going back tomorrow, but I've managed to persuade him. I've told him, if it gets too much, he must go to a teacher and say he wants to come home, and ask the teacher to ring me and I will explain why, he says he feels a fool and doesnt want to have to explain himself to a teacher. He also says he feels like a freak as none of the other kids are his size, and is also worried about his health, he feels that he must have something wrong with him. I cant get to see the original doc until next thurs, but son says thats ok, hes a nice doc and he feels comfortable talking to him, so he will wait. Part of me wants to go to the school and rip these kids apart for what they've done to my son, hes hurting so much, but I know that wont achieve anything. I will phone his head of year tomorrow without letting my son know I'm doing it, and ask him to get the teachers to look out for him, they are a caring school so I feel confident that even if I dont get to speak to him personally, someone will listen and take notice. I just hope I can keep myself together enough while I make the call so wish me luck folks.
Sue

ktb

awww bulchy.... I really feel your rage and I feel for your son! Bloody kids... why do people fear & pick on anything a bit different?! School & teenage is hard enough :mad:

Is there anything he can do to build up his confidence a bit? What about a martial art or something? It will give him something else to focus on and things like Judo have a real mental element to them which helps build self esteem without being all about agression or fighting etc?

I honestly dont think there is anything 'wrong' with him health wise and I really hope that the Dr can put yours and his minds at rest about that.

Penny_Watcher

bulchy wrote: »

Hes fed up with the other kids and the taunts hes getting for his size, and cant take it any more.

:mad: They are such little b*ggers :mad:

And you're between a rock and a hard place with contacting school. Talking to his year head is a really good idea.

I totally agree with ktb about boosting his confidence. There's a lad in my DS1's class who is very slim. He hadn't much confidence in his physical appearance until he took up distance running when he started high school last September. He'd never done it before, but the first time he tried it he broke the school cross country record. The PE teacher was so gob smacked he rang the lad's mum to ask if he was in a running club (and if he wasn't he should be!) His power to weight ratio is brilliant.

Thinking about that, your boy might be really good at cycling (Tour de France stylee rather than mountain biking etc). Again, it's a sport where being light is a definite advantage. Less kgs to haul up steep hills, but enough muscle to keep you going on the flat. It might be worth approaching your local cycling club to see if they have a Juniors section. When Lance Armstrong was at his best there wasn't an ounce of fat on him


Meanwhile, before DD1 had her Crohn's diagnosis the doctor prescribed some stuff called Polycal to add on all her food. It's unflavoured powder that can be dissolved in food and drink which boosts the calorie value without having to increase the volume of food eaten.

HTH

skyrocket

I'm glad you posted this thread. My son (8) is as 'thin as a pancake' (his words) and I worry that people think we don't feed him but in truth he never stops!
I have started giving him Complan shakes. They are protein shakes and good for putting weight on the elderley or those that have been ill.
I've only just started so time will tell but from reading what people have said on here, the extra protein can't do any harm and he loves the chocolate shake ones!

patchwork_cat

Hi
My son gets taunted for the opposite. As far as obesity being child abuse oh but that it had anything to do with me. If there is nothing else in he will eat bread we have started freezing the bread so that there is none out. Yes we are overweight too, but it isn't because we eat chips all the time. My son says that we eat more fruit and veg than any of his peers, who just stuff themselves with sweets all day at school and don't get overweight.

Both sides of the coin have problems and to a certain extent in teens it is to do with growth and metabolism. My son was on for a good 6 ft when he was younger, but over the last couple of years hasn't been following the graph and has dropped down. When he starts to grow I think his weight will melt. Similarly if your son is doing his growth spurt and didn't have reserves he will look thin.

It is as well to check out that he is well though. Milk (go for full fat if he is underweight) weirdly might help him gain weight, however there have been reports that it can also help lose weight- maybe a new/old superfood!!

bulchy

Just a quick update on my son. He had a blood test yesterday afternoon, we got a call from the lab at 8 last night to get him straight into hospital. Hes been diagnosed as diabetic. Hes stable now, I've came home for some sleep, his dad is with him. Thanks to everyone for support/encouragment and advice, no doubt I'll be asking for more once we get our heads round what has happened. All replies are much appreciated, thank you all.
Sue