I'm suffering from parent guilt tonight. My son is considered morbidly obese, and I willingly take blame. It's not as though I haven't noticed or have filled him with junk. I've mentioned my concerns to our doctor for the past several years, and each time I've been reassured that he's okay. I've tried reasoning with my husband to not each so many carbs or to not bring junk food into the house. I even have my husband hide his junk food so we won't eat it.
But reality stipulates that my son is morbidly obese. I've tried to do right by him...more home cooking, fewer meals out. I've limited TV and computer time. Insisted on exercise; enrolled him in karate. He rides to and from school. We take walks and go on hikes. None has been sufficient to fight genetics...fat genes on both sides of the family.
And now my son weighs almost as much as his 15 year old cousin. That should not be. He has high cholesterol and high triglycerides. Apparently, when one consumes too much sugar, not only does sugar go to the belly but also to the liver, where it hangs around. Who knew!? I knew I have a sugar addiction, but apparently my sweet son does as well. I've caused this in him.
We've seen a nutritionist, a wonderful woman who did not make me or my son feel badly about this situation. She gave us fabulous pointers, easy steps we can all take to make sure we are all healthy. In addition to his 20 minute bike rides each day, his 90 minutes of karate per week, we need to add another 30 minutes of exercise four times a week. This will challenge us to find fun ways to be active, to increase our heart rates, and to break sweat.
We will never be skinny. But skinny doesn't necessarily mean healthy. We ultimately want to be healthy and have good readings for our sugars, cholesterol, blood pressure, etc. I just feel terrible that I've allowed my son to gain so much weight. He deserves better.
