A relative that we love very much is so obese that her organs are collapsing from the weight of the fat. She's mentally ill and is addicted to food. It's so scary to watch her laboring to breathe, be unable to walk very far, and not know how to help her. Her mother is a weight watcher leader and has not been successful in helping her either. We love her and want her to live and it seems like she doesn't care if she lives. Her thoughts and conversations are always about food and the next meals that she's going to eat.
She's bright and manipulative and knows what foods will help her lose weight, control her blood sugar levels, and knows about portion sizes. If any of you have any suggestions that family members can do to help her, they will be so welcome. She takes multiple meds for her multiple health problems, has to use a ventilator, a C-PAP machine, and is now on insulin. Her doctors tell her it's mandatory that she lose weight and she thinks she's being picked on.
2007-03-05 08:01:44 · 6 answers · asked by grandmafulkerson 1 in Health ➔ Mental Health
They have rehabilitation centers for obese now in the US, they are called Bariatric Centers. You go in and they rule ther roost. No food eexcept your meals and proper snacks. Once they reduce the weight, ther work on your habits. She must be controlled, dominated, she obviusly can't decide on her own. There is also a disease that makes you obsessed with food to eat contiuously, they actually have to lock fridges and cupboards. Good luck hun.
2007-03-05 13:23:04 · answer #1 · answered by steelgal 4 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Tough love is a great course of action...someone is enabling her...who?? Take away the enablers and you take away her power to manipulate her circumstances. Get her professional help...call in the Calvary!! Even if she doesn't get it now...she will eventually...and let's hope it is sooner then later. Go to her Doctor, find out what line of action should be taken. She may need to be phyco-analyzed..but none the less..she needs serious help...death is a horrible option..and she seems to be choosing just that. Death by food...NOT good!! good luck
2007-03-05 08:34:16 · answer #2 · answered by shawn t 1 · 0⤊ 0⤋
the more attention you pay to her and the problem the more she will be aware of it try getting her interested in something that she must concentrate on never mention the food she is trying to get make sure she gets her own food,be careful of the foods you buy and leave only fruit for snacks when she wants something to drink make sure she waits on herself and you might mention while your in there fix me a glass as well as her moving around it could possibly make her feel useful be sure to thank her just like anyone else when she mentions food casually change the subject
2007-03-05 08:35:32 · answer #3 · answered by loveChrist 6 · 0⤊ 0⤋
What a rough situation to be in. It's not surprising that she knows all of the right things to do; people with eating disorders are frequently "food experts". There's not much you can do except listen and get her to a therapist that has dealt with eating disorders. If she'll go, go with her to over-eaters anonymous.
2007-03-05 08:08:21 · answer #4 · answered by nikkiv6872 2 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Honestly, I think if she feels like she's being picked on, you need to tell her to stop being a selfish manipulative [insert random swear]. Tell her to get over herself, and lose the weight, or else she's going to die. Ask her what she'd like to wear for her funeral, or if she'd rather be cremated, etc. It seems clear that she doesn't want to put the effort into doing the work for herself, and she needs that extra motivation, regardless of how malicious it might seem to both of you at the time. Smack some sense into her and bring her back to reality.
2007-03-05 08:07:03 · answer #5 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 2⤋
She's definitely a candidate for gastric bypass.
2007-03-05 08:09:37 · answer #6 · answered by jaypea40 5 · 0⤊ 0⤋