How to Stop Your Kid from Getting Fat on Psych Drugs

Eleven weeks ago your kid weighed twenty pounds less. How is that possible, you wonder. Well if your child takes an anti-psychotic drug, packing on the pounds may be hard to prevent, according to a recent study published in the "American Medical Journal."

These anti-psychotic drugs, used to treat a variety of mental illnesses--including bipolar, autism, attention deficit disorder and other psychiatric problems--may seem like a god-send for many parents of children suffering from these disorders. But the risk of explosive weight gain can be extremely frightening for parents and kids alike. Read on to learn some solid steps adults should take to help kids keep the drug-induced weight gain at bay.

Difficulty: Moderately Challenging

Instructions

Things You'll Need:

• Patience
• Information about your child's condition
• Commitment to help support your child

1. Arm yourself with the facts.
   Research and learn as much as you can about your child's illness and the medicines that are prescribed. Educate yourself about the side effects that each drug may cause. Before allowing your child to take medication that can cause weight gain become his advocate and ask his doctor to try other medications that don't have weight gain as a side effect before settling on the ones that may.

2. Lead by example.
   Modeling a healthy lifestyle will speak louder to your child than any lecture ever will. Make sure that you aren't ordering the supersized value meal at the drive through window or the extra double fudge sundae for dessert. We've all heard, "take the stairs instead of the elevator, park far away from the store." Now is the time to implement some of these suggestions to show your kid how small changes can make a big difference. Make it a habit to do some type of exercise on most days so that your child will follow your lead.

3. Remove the chef's hat.
   Too many children are eating whatever they want whenever they want it and usually they aren't making the healthiest choices. Reinstate family meal time and make one nutritious, portion controlled meal for everyone. No more taking everyone's order. Let your child decide whether to partake in what is being served or to pass. Don't let it become a power struggle. Sissy doesn't have to eat, but needs to know that if she chooses not to she will have to wait until it is time for the next meal to fill her belly. It won't take her long to figure out it is better to eat healthy than to be hungry.

4. Move it and lose it.
   Get your child involved in outdoor activities. Camping, tennis, swimming, snowboarding to name a few. Toss the Frisbee around or take a walk after dinner. If your kid has more of a competitive nature sign him up for an organized sports team. Assign active chores. Vacuuming, mowing the lawn, washing the car, raking leaves, walking the dog. Little Jason can burn some calories, be helpful, and earn some extra cash.

5. Fortify your cupboards with nutritious foods.
   Keep offering healthy choices for snacks and meals. Sissy probably won't jump on the bandwagon overnight. Experts tell us that you will probably have to offer her a new food eight to ten times before she decides she likes it. On the other hand don't vilify any food. Everything in moderation. An occasional cupcake won't cause massive weight gain but if you forbid it you can be sure she will find a way to sneak it. Forbidden fruit always tastes delicious.

6. Teach your child about nutrition.
   Take your child grocery shopping with you. Read labels together, and explain the difference between healthy ingredients i.e. whole grains versus unhealthy ingredients i.e. fructose or refined sugar. Show them wholesome alternatives to some of the less than desirable snack foods. Teach them to shop the perimeter of the grocery store where most of the fresh, non processed food items are rather than the center aisles where the processed foods are stored. Post the Children's Food Pyramid on the fridge and refer to it when you help them prepare a snack of whole wheat crackers with organic peanut butter instead of cookies and soda.

7. Cheer on your child.
   Make sure that your child knows that you are his biggest fan. Assure him that the sudden weight gain is caused from a chemical reaction due to his medication and not due to poor choices or lack of self discipline. Instill in him the sense that you will always be there for him and want to help with whatever life throws at him. Whether it is weight gain due to medication or a crush on a new girlfriend, you've got his back.

Tips & Warnings

• Tips
• Enlist the help of a certified nutritionist if need be.
• Make one change a week. Revamping a whole lifestyle in one full swoop is a recipe for failure.
• Keep in contact with your child's doctor.
• Don't use food to fix emotional or physical pain or as a reward.
• Make mealtime enjoyable.
• Know the calorie requirements for children:
• ages 6-12 2,200 calories per day
• teen girls 2,200 calories per day
• teen boys 2,800 calories per day
• Consult your child's doctor if you notice any persistent symptoms of depression or low self esteem.

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[Rockney]

on 11/9/2009 Great article! 5*!

[plasticostrich]

on 11/9/2009 These seem like great general tips for avoiding weight gain in kids, not just for those on medications.

[thedogshrink]

on 11/8/2009 Anti-psychotic drugs are used for autism and schizophrenia and sometimes other disorders. They are approved and labeled for autism (risperidone) and schizophrenia. They are indeed a godsend for those children who need them. The weight gain is significant and only a certain amount of it can be fixed with exercise and eating right. But the weight gain also puts these children at greater risk of future heart disease and diabetes, etc and so everything that is possible to teach them to eat healthy foods and exercise should be done, as you suggest. Anti-psychotics are not used for ADHD or bipolar disorder. Good info in the article -- thanks.

[mskniss]

on 11/8/2009 I like medication. I don't like kids. If kids must be present I prefer they be thin and medicated.

[poetkelly]

on 11/8/2009 These are good tips. However, anti-psychotic drugs are not used to treat disorders like autism or attention deficit hyperactivity disorder. They are used to treat psychosis. For instance, they might be prescribed to treat schizophrenia. In rare instances, people with bipolar disorder also experience psychosis and in those cases anti-psychotic drugs might be prescribed, but they are not often prescribed for people with bipolar disorder, either.