Special Needs Adult son
My son is 21 and obese. I have sought out help for him, but, he is not able to receive help. He has autism, cerebral palsy, moderate/severe developmental delays, etc. Unfortunately, he only eats certain things which is common when one has issues as his.
I feel so bad and cry all the time because I try so hard to get him to eat healthy things. Even if I hide something in his food her smells it and rejects it etc. I do not think GLP1’s are good for him because he has cerebral palsy; and he cannot walk due to his condition. He also has issues affecting his ability to chew foods and it causes him to vomit.
Hi
. That's such a difficult situation. My heart goes out to you. Please know his obesity is not your fault. It's not uncommon for people with autism to crave carbohyrdrates. Throw in his physical challenges and it's truly an uphill battle. Have you talked with his doctor about his weight issues? Has his doctor been of any help?
GLP-1s might not be right for him, but there might be other, less impactful, medications that at least help. For instance, some doctors prescribe low-dose metformin for weight loss. Despite the long list of potential side effects, most people do not experience them.
Change has to come from within and that might to too overwhelming for your son. Can you try substituting healthier options that are similar in taste and feel for higher calorie, more highly processed foods? For instance, I swapped out regular hamburger and hot dog buns for Schmidt Old Tyme 647 buns. They are only 90 calories and they have protien. My kids haven't even noticed the difference. Barilla Protein Plus is a good swap-out option for pasta. There are lots of lower sugar options available for ice cream. If he craves sugary drinks, you can try mixing his drinks with sugar-free versions and upping the percentage every few weeks. If might take months to go from 25 percent sugar-free to 100 percent and you might not even make it to 100 percent, but every bit helps.
People with autism can be extra perceptive when it comes to even the smallest of changes, but it might be worth trying. Is he able to exercise at all? I image that's hard, but if you can increase his exercise by even a few minutes a day, that a few more calories burned.
Try to set small, achievables goals that will leave you feel accomplished, not big goals that are nearly impossible to reach. Remember that any change is good change and that his obesity is likely side effect of his conditions, not a fault of either yours or his. You've got this and we're here for you.
Warm wishes. - Lori (Team Member)
