Doing Atkins for a younger child

[atiaran]

Here's the sitch: my stepdaughter's mother started on Atkins about 2 months ago and even though weight loss has been slow, she loves the energy and WOE etc. The stepdaughter has been overweight ever since i have known her (3.5 years) and the topic has always been offlimits. The best I could do was to somewhat control the bad carbs on the nights we had them. Recently, she went to her mom and showed her an article on stomach stapling. This a 12 year old girl - wanting her stomach stapled!!
Well, when it's in your face, I guess you have to address it, so she is now starting on the Atkins woe. Which I am glad for as it will make meals a bit easier. My main concern is over the carb levels. She is at 240 lbs and wears a size 16. I think her mom is starting her at Induction levels, but I wonder if it shouldn't be a bit higher so her body still gets the required nutrients etc. We are thinking of starting my stepson on this WOE too, as he is also starting to put on weight. He is 10, and would likely be ok at PreMaint to start. Has anyone here had experience with LCing and teenagers or kids?

[LadyBelle]

For 12 and under Atkins recomends only doing the program under the guidence of a pediatrician. At her age her body needs special nutricion, extra calcium, and other needs that the Atkins program doesn't cover. He also states that the initial weight loss could be far to fast for a younger body.

Removing refined sugar and flour from her diet and upping veggies and fruits is probably a wonderful thing. The strictness of induction might not meet all her needs however. I think it is CAD or Sugar busters that has a book specialy for carb addicted children. While she may have weight problems, she is also still growing and developing. 12 is a great age for metabolism and eating disorders to really set in because of the stress from puberty and the new pressures on girls.

What ever they decide to do, they definetly must see a doctor first. Hopefully they can find one that supports LC. You can also try to get her to call the Atkins clinics help number to see what they can advise. As for the stomach stapleing, I don't think any honest doctor out there would perform the sugery on a 12 year old girl. Most will sugegst a program of proper nutricion and exercise, emphasis on the exercise. While it probably isn't illigal, in my opinion any doctor that would perform a surgery on a child like that shouldn't be able to hold a license.

[mammoth]

First: I STRONGLY agree with ladybelle...see a DOCTOR.
Second: Find a DIFFERENT doctor then the one she had been seeing. There is NO WAY any good doc lets any 12 yr old get to that weight...find a NEW doctor.

I wish you VERY good luck...and this child is very lucky to have you! She really needs your help...and I do hope you have great success!
Bless you for trying!
Best wishes;
Jake

[liz175]

This poor child is dealing with a lot -- her parents' split, her extreme weight problem which must lead to teasing by other kids, her body changing as she goes through adolescence, tensions between you and her mother over how to react to her weight (you refer to these in your post), and your pregnancy which she must perceive as threatening her relationship with her father and which also raises all sorts of issues related to parents' sexuality that make adolescents uncomfortable. I would suggest that in addition to getting her under a doctor's supervision (which you must do if she is dieting), she probably also needs some psychological counseling if she is not getting it already. And, psychological counseling for an child usually means some combination of individual and family counseling, since the child's issues are usually so tied up with the family.

[atiaran]

Both the kids have undergone counseling in the past and have adjusted well to the divorce, remarriage, and upcoming new sibling. The one thing that had always remained an issue is the weight due to their mom having been ridiculed by her parents as a child for being overweight. She never wanted to impose that on her kids, but at the same time she may have gone to the other extreme by not educating them on proper eating habits either.
She was very shocked and upset when her daughter approached her and we are working together to make sure this is successful - we have always been civil. I am just glad at this point it is being addressed and want to make sure it's done in a benficial way, and not as a short term quick fix. Thanks for all the great replies, and I'll make sure we see a doctor soon.

[Zuleikaa]

I would think about doing CAD. The Hellers have put out a CAD book specifically for children. I think it's called carb addicted kids. It might be that CAD with it's allowance of a reward meal containing carbs once a day might be more appropriate for growing children and address your concerns. I wouldn't put any child on induction.