13yr old son with no appetite / interest in food

poet123

Welshdreamer wrote: »

A parent knows their child better than anyone, we are responsible for our own health and well being, we cannot rely on the medical professionals to be proactive, that is the responsibility of the individuals.
I have had similar issues with mine. If he was my son I would be requesting a full range of blood and allergy tests from the GP. At the same time I would be requesting a referral to CAMHS, to enable my child to have a psychological assessment so I could rule out both physical and emotional ill health.
Growing up is tricky these days and parents need to be vigilant. We need to give our youngsters all the help we can.

I agree, as parents we do know our kids better than anyone else, and unless I was absolutely convinced that it was a medical/MH issue I absolutely would not put them in the system via CAMHS or SS. I say that as a college lecturer with daily contact with such agencies.

I think that often today we jump to intervention, when, if we sit back and assess the situation and maybe even ask older family members (Granny for example) for help or reassurance we would better serve our kids. If your gut feel is that he is ill, then explore that option with your GP, but take it a step at a time and do not go in all guns blazing when he could simply be someone with a small appetite which will change as he grows up.

My twopennorth for what it is worth.

paulineb_2

sooty&sweep wrote: »

Hi
Have you asked him why he won't eat things ?
At 13 yrs old he's old enough to understand the need for a varied diet.
Jen

Understanding it and wanting to eat food you dont like is different though. I never had a problem with eating, but I had a massive problem eating veg. I didnt eat much of it at all until I was in my mid teens. Someone could have said to me, you need to have a varied diet and Id still have declined certain veg. Which is bizarre to me now as I love veg and theres very few I wont eat but when I was growing up thinking back Id be hard pushed to think of any I liked at all.

It wasnt for the want of my mum trying to get me to eat them either.
Even the veg I dont care for much now, I eat because I know its good for me, I wouldnt have done that at 14 or 15.

Op, would it be possible to try and disguise some food, in the way of smoothies, so that even if hes not eating many foods that are healthy, hes getting it in the way of liquid.

And it is possible that a GP might be able to prescribe some kind of nutrition shake or supplement so that hes getting enough vitamins and minerals even though his diet must be lacking in them.

Homeagain

Agreed, as always. My daughter was always difficult where food was concerned. Not picky but just had a small appetite. It used to worry me such a lot. She never ate anything cooked in oil or any 'oily' foods. Loves vegetables and fruit (and sweets and chocolate but won't eat biscuits). She won't eat a burger, pizza or KFC because its too oily. Guess I'm just lucky. She is still like that today (she's just turned 17) and is slim and healthy (unlike me). Maybe the OP's child is just like that. Some people are just not big eaters (again unlike me)!

McKneff

paulineb wrote: »

Understanding it and wanting to eat food you dont like is different though. I never had a problem with eating, but I had a massive problem eating veg. I didnt eat much of it at all until I was in my mid teens. Someone could have said to me, you need to have a varied diet and Id still have declined certain veg. Which is bizarre to me now as I love veg and theres very few I wont eat but when I was growing up thinking back Id be hard pushed to think of any I liked at all.

It wasnt for the want of my mum trying to get me to eat them either.
Even the veg I dont care for much now, I eat because I know its good for me, I wouldnt have done that at 14 or 15.

Op, would it be possible to try and disguise some food, in the way of smoothies, so that even if hes not eating many foods that are healthy, hes getting it in the way of liquid.

And it is possible that a GP might be able to prescribe some kind of nutrition shake or supplement so that hes getting enough vitamins and minerals even though his diet must be lacking in them.

Smoothies, that could be the way. I do them and I promise you cant taste the sprouts lo.


You just need
A blender (not particularly a juicer)


Half a banana
handful of soft fruit.
2 or 3 sprouts.
Half a carrot
some chopped nuts.
Fresh orange juce, any as long as its fresh.


Ask him to drink it throughout the day.
As I say, I have always had a small appetite
Blend them all up, add more juice if you need to.
I have the same appetite as your son but these really go down well. I hate veg, any veg but Im getting the goodness of them in this. And I promise, you cant taste the sprouts. Don't let him see you putting them in though, he will swear he can...

poet123

McKneff wrote: »

Smoothies, that could be the way. I do them and I promise you cant taste the sprouts lo.


You just need
A blender (not particularly a juicer)


Half a banana
handful of soft fruit.
2 or 3 sprouts.
Half a carrot
some chopped nuts.
Fresh orange juce, any as long as its fresh.


Ask him to drink it throughout the day.
As I say, I have always had a small appetite
Blend them all up, add more juice if you need to.
I have the same appetite as your son but these really go down well. I hate veg, any veg but Im getting the goodness of them in this. And I promise, you cant taste the sprouts. Don't let him see you putting them in though, he will swear he can...

I second this, I used to make these with apples for my son, what he didn't see go in, he didn't taste!! You can add yoghurt too.

Lunar_Eclipse

I'm wondering about a problem with his pituitary gland, especially since he has always had no appetite.

Ever had it checked?

McKneff

And there is a massive difference between not eating it because we don't like it and actually physically not being able to eat it.

Seanymph

Surely though as he CAN eat, for instance if out for dinner, then he's not prioritising eating at home rather than not being able to eat?

With five children (3 steps) and all the assorted b/f's and g/f's I have seen a lot of eating patterns - and had an ex whose brother only ate jam sandwiches apparently for years.

Apart from the teeth issue I'd be uninclined to panic and work on expanding what he does eat.

If he does yorkshires he'll do pancakes - if he does pancakes you can add fruit. If he does cakes you can do carrot cake. Just make what he eats less 'plain'.

And hang onto the fact that when he goes to his g/f's for dinner he'll eat everything her mother puts in front of him - believe me, they don't want to say 'I don't like that' to parents they are trying to impress

FBaby

My husband said that he went through a phase as a teenager when he just never ever felt hungry. He says that he was just too busy with the things he was doing to be bothered with food. He was very skinny and he didn't care.

He grew to be a very fit sporty adult, and at 45, he has the body of a 20 year old. He takes his eating habits very seriously, has studied nutrition and he could eat healthier. Skipping meals and eating very little during his teenage years have definitely not had any detrimental effects on him in any way.

poet123

FBaby wrote: »

My husband said that he went through a phase as a teenager when he just never ever felt hungry. He says that he was just too busy with the things he was doing to be bothered with food. He was very skinny and he didn't care.

He grew to be a very fit sporty adult, and at 45, he has the body of a 20 year old. He takes his eating habits very seriously, has studied nutrition and he could eat healthier. Skipping meals and eating very little during his teenage years have definitely not had any detrimental effects on him in any way.

No wonder you married him!!:D