13-Year-Old Wont Eat Breakfast

Question
Hi Laura!

My 13-year-old daughter is very athletic (field hockey, track) and she is starting a conditioning program to get ready for upcoming seasons. I'm worried because besides not eating much in general, she refuses to eat breakfast. She says that she is flat out not hungry in the morning. She is 5 feet tall and weighs 86 lbs. Do you have any recommendations?

Thank you!

Answer
Hi Charles, First ask her doctor what her normal weight should be. On average a 5 ft person should weigh about 100 pounds, so she is  a little underweight. If she has always been a lean child, then her present weight is probably OK. If she has slowly lowered her weight percentage on the height and weight chart, then she might be developing an eating disorder. Her doctor, who has hopefully charted her height and weight since birth should determine that healthy number for you. Getting a teenage to do anything can be a struggle. If she cares about her body and her schooling, then explain to her the studies show that kids who ate breakfast did better on tests in school and that a 12-14 hour fast is not a good idea for a growing and maturing teen, especially a teen striving to be a good athlete. The days she fasts at breakfast are the days she will be burning valuable muscle that could make her weaker, and could affect her sports performance. Her sport coach can also educate her as to what she should be eating. Hope that helps, Laura Kraemer,Slimkids.com

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