Anorexia worry

[Alliegid]

My 16yr old son is painfully thin (BMI of 15.6) and I a very worried about him. He does eat, but not massive amounts and the things he eats lots of have no calories in them - lettuce, gherkins, marmite, cucumber etc. He doesn't miss meals or bring the food up afterwards, but I know he needs to eat more.

He doesn't feel hungry and thinks he looks OK(usually wears lots of layers, but will strip off for a swim on occasion)

I am really worried and don't know where to go to get help. we recently saw dr, about something else & he didn't even comment on this. Please point me in. the right direction

Thanks

[saxy_jag]

He's at risk of being underweight, but unless he has lost a lot of weight, lost his appetite, has an unhealthy diet (someone I used to know lived on soup and crisps) is vomiting, is tired or otherwise unwell, then a low BMI can be normal, especially if he's otherwise well and developing normally.

Remember, at 16, he's still growing. But if you're concerned (and/or if he's concerned), then visit your doctor and present this specific concern to him/her, if only to put your minds at rest.

[NiceCupOfTea]

Sorry to jump in. Your son does sound painfully thin. Should he need help, you really do need professional help if you are going to help him. Anorexia is an issue with teenagers of all ages and genders, and no amount of well meaning intervention from parents or friends is of any assistance without professional help. Drugs have exactly the same problem.

When we were young we knew best, and were also invincible. Plus some problems are too embarrassing and awful to discuss. No wonder mums don�t get told stuff. I hope you can help your son. Please let us know what happens.

[pinktwink]

you need professional help for him now before he slips deeper rinto the image. speak to your doctor and ask for a referral to a specialist eating disorders service inyour area

[Alliegid]

Thanks Johigham & saxy-jag for your sensible advice.

He has lost weight and is very concious of what he eats. Lunch was thinly cut bread and lots of salad sandwich with just a scraping of butter and an apple.

He also finds excuses for walking miles, - missed bus ....., didn't want to wait for next bus ....., just fancied a walk ...etc

I will get advice from Dr as I think that this may well be the early days of a food problem and I want to get him back on the right path to healthy eating. There seems to be plenty of advice on weight loss at the moment, but not much on weight gain.

[Seadragon]

Did the doctor check for worms? I don't have experience of this but I remember my friend once mentioning it about her son's girlfriend's kids being underweight and having no appetite because they often had worms.

The only other suggestion I can make is that if physically he checks out fine, maybe their could be an emotional problem evident? I'am just wondering if you have spoken to him about friends, maybe a girl he might be interested in, or a fallout with someone or other such teenage (and adult!) problems? Failing that, I suppose you would have to keep your fingers crossed and hope that whatever he is going through, he soon recovers from?

[Sqad]

2 other considerations:

1) drug abuse
2) Bullying.

[saxy_jag]

Was just thinking, if he's otherwise happy and healthy, and is concerned himself about his skinniness, has he tried 'build-up' drinks - soups, milkshakes and the like.

I only ask because a work colleague also has a very low BMI and is underweight - he's also very active and otherwise healthy (he's actually quite a foodie), but just has difficulty keeping weight on. His wife is a dietitian so helps him with appropriate foods and things, but he likes build-up soups so takes those on a regular basis. Not to everyone's taste, but if you like them you can buy them quite easily.

[dot.haukes]

my son is 6ft 4 and thankfully at 22 ans 11 months I think he may have stopped growing, he takes aftyer his dad and is thin as a latt, he is always hungry. When he was 16 he developed red horizontal lines across his back and so i took him to see our GP and the GP said he had a condition that meant his colligen was making his sinews over grow so we qwent to a specialist who said he had Spike Millgans disease cos his knees were on backwards.
The GP told us my son's heart muscles could snap at anytime and he shouldn't do sports and he waa about to start his sports science course at college. It knocklef him back and he fretted so much about it.
He goes through times when he has no appetite and won;t feed himself when I am not home to cook, he's bascially lazy, but then he'll binge because he is starving. He's erratic like that, his weight is about 10st I think.
He still plays footie for the Town Team and has moved on from the GPs Diagnosis when he was 16.

[Alliegid]

Again - thanks for the info everybody.

I'm confident that bullying isn't the problem, - he has an active social life, - and a good number of friends. He got robbed of his phone a couple of month ago and was quite shaken by that, but mates rallied round and he is well over it now.

We actually communicate well - I've 3 teenagers (one older and one younger) and usually have a houseful of various friends and mates. I like teenagers and my kids simply don't have the time to be leading a secret life (I only teach part time) We are one of those families who eat together every night and enjoy each others company!

Really don't think that it is drugs ( hub has worked in drug squad in past so knows most of the signs & tricks) Son also hates smoking and hardly touches drink at all. The Dr asked him all this stuff and couldn't believe how clean living he is!

[Panic Button]

Feed him pizza

[CherryBea24]

Alliegid

I was very interesed in reading your post I have the same problem with both my children, firstly study your family history if it is known to you this could be genetic some people are naturally thin, I know how you feel I have been heartbroken at people thinking I didn't feed my children or that they are anorexic, we do have thyroid problems in the family and if you research the Thyroid you will se that your son is showing signs and I ask you please do not take the doctors results as red there is alot of misunderstanding and interpreting of thyroid hormone readings please look up Thyroid uk website I am sure this will help.

If I can be of help further please let me know, and also try not to worry and don't make an issue oabout the eating. I found this only makes things worse.

I really hope tgis helps a little because belive me I do understand

Cherry