OT: gaining weight for teenage boys

[Guest guest]

This is OT so please feel free to email me directly. Our whole family is doing

the ETL program. I think we are doing more of the Eat for Health program as we

aren't as strict as the 6- week plan.

 

My 13 (almost 14) year old son is thin and wants to gain weight. He is 5'7 " and

100 pounds. This runs in my family for teenagers to be thin and then BANG it

catches up with us! My oldest is 28 and 6'3 " and is just starting to gain weight

now. He has been about 180 for years. Since my 13 year old wants to gain weight

I would like him to do it in a healthy way. He is lactose intolerant so eats

very, very little cheese. He can eat as much as he wants at every meal and

usually eats quite a few healthy snacks during the day (we homeschool). He eats

lots of fresh fruit, bean burritos, peanut butter sandwiches. I have been

vegetarian for years but will cook a small amount of meat occasionally. Some

turkey bacon, or good quality lunch meat, ground turkey made into taco meat. He

doesn't really care for meat at all, so doesn't eat much of it. With 5 acres and

horses and goats he does lots of hard work each day and we do use our Bow flex

for toning and strength training. I make a rice pudding often that is just

cooked rice, non-dairy milk, vanilla and some sweetener cooked into a pudding.

This boy can EAT and puts away the food.

 

Any suggestions for helping him gain weight in a healthy way?

 

Michelle

[Guest guest]

No advice as far as remaining fat free, anyway, because some of the best healthy vegan sources of fat are nuts, avocados, and coconut oil. These may help him put on weight--but to what end? You already know your son is following a family pattern. He is healthy and active. I don't think you can change his body, and I'm not sure you should try.

 

I have one ultra-thin son, too, with no family history of anyone being so thin. He is the only one of my six birth children who is so thin. But he is healthy and active. He eats normal amounts (and he is not vegan, or even vegetarian). He weighs 15 lbs. less than his brother who is a year younger. He still requires a booster seat in the car, whereas his brother does not. He's 11 years old and weighs under 70 lbs. I have had him tested for Celiac--negative. This is just the way he is. When he was a preschooler, I tried giving him Pediasure to boost his weight, but it had no effect whatsoever. I have relaxed about it now.

 

Marilyn

 

 

 

 

 

jabaldja <Petagoatjunction

 

Mon, Feb 8, 2010 12:00 pm

OT: gaining weight for teenage boys

 

 

 

This is OT so please feel free to email me directly. Our whole family is doing the ETL program. I think we are doing more of the Eat for Health program as we aren't as strict as the 6- week plan.

 

My 13 (almost 14) year old son is thin and wants to gain weight. He is 5'7" and 100 pounds. This runs in my family for teenagers to be thin and then BANG it catches up with us! My oldest is 28 and 6'3" and is just starting to gain weight now. He has been about 180 for years. Since my 13 year old wants to gain weight I would like him to do it in a healthy way. He is lactose intolerant so eats very, very little cheese. He can eat as much as he wants at every meal and usually eats quite a few healthy snacks during the day (we homeschool). He eats lots of fresh fruit, bean burritos, peanut butter sandwiches. I have been vegetarian for years but will cook a small amount of meat occasionally. Some turkey bacon, or good quality lunch meat, ground turkey made into taco meat. He doesn't really care for meat at all, so doesn't eat much of it. With 5 acres and horses and goats he does lots of hard work each day and we do use our Bow flex for toning and strength training. I mak e a rice pudding often that is just cooked rice, non-dairy milk, vanilla and some sweetener cooked into a pudding. This boy can EAT and puts away the food.

 

Any suggestions for helping him gain weight in a healthy way?

 

Michelle