(( Children of weight loss surgery patients may be at risk for eating disorders ))
15 November 07 - 09:31
TAKEN FROM : LIVINGAFTERWLS.COM
As parents who’ve had gastric bypass or lap band weight loss surgery we face many challenges raising a family. Perhaps an unexpected challenge is when a child develops an eating disorder that may be exacerbated by the parents dieting habits. It turns out as our children observe us diet and fail (repeatedly) before having gastric bypass, then they watch us lose weight in an almost obsessive excitement after weight loss surgery (WLS), some panic and vow “this will not happen to me.” A descent into an eating disorder may follow.
According to AnorexiaBulimaHelp “Dieting or restriction of certain foods, or excessive dieting from parents” is a contributing factor in teen and pre-teen eating disorders. In addition “The appearance obsessed society most people live in can contribute to eating disorders . . . When combined with a low self-esteem, feelings of depression or anxiety or isolation, the effects can be devastating. Eating disorders commonly erupt as a coping mechanism, as a way for people to feel more “normal” and in control in a society that isn’t really normal to begin with.”
Wow. Are you worried? Growing up I watched my mother work her way up and down the scale many times. No need to name the diets she tried: we all tried them. I believe I learned from her that diet equals failure. It seems like every time she’d get to the benchmark, “this is the lowest weight I’ve been since having my first child” suddenly her weight loss would stop and back up the scale she’d climb at a rapid rate. She is morbidly obese today and no longer attempts dieting. Who can blame her?
Did she know that was the lesson she was teaching me? That eventually I’d "diet" myself into morbid obesity? I don’t think so, and I don’t blame her. She didn’t know any better.
We know better today. It is our stewardship to our children to do the best we can to protect them, raise them healthy, and teach them healthy habits of nutrition and exercise. We owe it to our children to keep them off the operating table and out of eating disorder treatment centers.
But how to do that? By example and by being informed.
AnorexiaBulimaHelp.com is a comprehensive resource on eating disorders – if you fear someone in your family is suffering from an eating disorder please visit this site. The site includes many links to several other resources about eating disorders.
oK SO My point to this post . . . I have two children, girls, one age 10, 154lbs, the other age 4, 62 lbs. I have fought continually for my weight and theirs to be less. Now, I realize this was a bad idea to share this struggle with them. So now what am I supposed to do? If I shouldn't be verbal about this constant struggle, how do I make them aware of the problems their weight can bring? My four year old (will be 5 Nov 29th) talks about when she can have surgery so she won't be so fat. I am stunned at this (since she is not that over weight). My 10 year old will not get her ass of the couch other than once a week for cheerleading pracice. But now for the fear that I can bring on an eating disorder in my children, I will not discuss this issue in front of them anymore.
