Hey Kaydie, I used to work with special needs kids and had one with a similar weight problem though not nearly as severe. What your sister needs to understand, and if she gets defensive tough give her some tough love, is that if your nephew develops diabetes and then goes off on his bike and eats whatever the heck he wants, he can do more than lose a toe, he can die. A guy I was friends with in middle school, died after we graduated from a hyper/hypoglycemic episode when we were like 20. He was short and skinny!
As far as suggestions, the pediatrician needs to update his malpractice insurance because there sure as heck is something wrong. As far as South America sizes, we'd have to know what country but think Brazilian bikinis and you can see that South Americans in general are not predominantly large people. Now, as far as his job is concerned, if this is under adult programming, tell them he is under dietary restrictions and can only eat vegetables or what have you. I assume he has some sort of superivision at work regardless because of his disability. Do not let him carry around pocket money if he is going to insist on using it for food.
Get him involved in something that equals exercise like Special Olympics or something. Riding his bike is great but not if he's going to McDonald's and back. Give him errands to run like going to a post office or the library, things that don't require him to carry money. Get him a paper route that he can ride his bike for. Have your sister turn it around on her and say that her doctor told her that if she doesn't lose weight she could get really sick and she needs everybody's help so no junk food in the house and healthy food. Get him to help develop healthy meals for mom and help shop for them. Get that cookbook that shows how to sneak healthy foods into meals for kids.
Above all make sure your sister understands that you love her and your nephew and want them both around and healthy for a long, long time. Heck tell her a friend of mine who is 6 feet 2 and weighed 225 at one point started having knee problems at 26? He has lost 40 pounds and guess what? His knees don't hurt him anymore. It makes a huge difference. I don't know how tall your sister is but 230 pounds is not a healthy weight for most women adn 340 pounds is not a healthy weight for anyone. Good luck to you! |
Suggestions - FLMT
