Question Title: 13 year old-intestinal problems?

I know you folks don't diagnose of this forum but maybe you can give me some direction. My son is 13, 5'5" and 250 lbs. I knew he had gained weight, but the last 40 lbs have been in just a few months. I believe he has an eating disorder but the opposite of anorexia, of course, so nobody cares. But all of his life he has had stomach (intestinal?) problems. He complains of stomach pains which I assume are gas related. He has at least two bowel movements a day, sometimes more. Usually they are somewhat loose. Obviously he has been eating alot of food, and I suspect milk products cause some problems. Altho, He never seemed to be lactose intolerant as a small child. Pizza kills him but only is it's hot. If he eats it cold the next day, he's fine. He's now starting to get heartburn. (I have GERD, so I worry about that). We have started on a family-wide healthy eating and exercise plan. I fix him a baked chicken breast sandwich or salad with baked chiken in it instead of the high carbo school lunches. He wants to shape up to play football for next year and so far he's lost 8 lbs. However, after two weeks, the stomach problems have continued. The pediatrician just tells me not to buy Twinkies. I don't, but he has at times eaten a handful of plain bread, and I sometimes think he's addicted to carbs. He is getting very tired of the stomach problems, but as I said, the pediatrician is of little help. We tried a nutritionist a few years ago and she said not to eat Big Macs- -he hates hamburger anyway. Any suggestions on how to help him? He's miserable. Thanks.

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Dear Pam.
At 5'5 and 250 lbs your son is overwieght and may be creating physicial problems that will be chronic in adulthood. I suggest that your son have an appropriate evaluation by a gastroenterologist to exclude a physicial cuase for the abdominal pains and diarrhea. A second step is to meet with a nutritionsit and to develop a plan for wirght reduction. Third, if you believe that he ahs an eating disorder, then you should meet with a psychologist/psychiatrist to investigate this problem and to develop plans to treat the eating disorder. It is crucial for your sons future health that these issues be addressed.

This information is presented for educational purposes. Ask specific questions to your personal physician.

HFHSM.D.-rf
*keywords: eating disorder, abdominal pain, diarrhea
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