Teen Girl Label Mother As 'Controlling' For Banning Her Diets And Removing Low-Calorie Food From Fridge

"She doesn't want me dieting anymore."

Damjan

• Published in Interesting
• May 27, 2024

In today’s world, many teenagers are becoming increasingly conscious about their health and diet. It’s not uncommon to see young individuals, like 16-year-old OP, making efforts to eat healthier and take care of their bodies.

But what happens when these efforts clash with the views of those closest to them? OP, a regular teenager with a desire to lead a healthier lifestyle, found herself in a perplexing situation.

After six months of diligently sticking to a diet of low-calorie and "healthy" foods, she encountered a surprising hurdle: her own mother. One evening, as OP went to the fridge to retrieve her carefully prepared salad, she discovered it missing, along with several other items she had bought for herself.

Confused and concerned, she turned to her mother for answers. What she learned was shocking – her mother had disposed of all her food, expressing disapproval of her dieting endeavors.

This revelation sparked a heated argument between OP and her mother. OP accused her mother of being controlling, while her mother, deeply upset, insisted that she was only trying to help. This clash of perspectives left OP feeling frustrated and bewildered.

How could prioritizing her health and taking care of her body be seen as problematic? To add to her distress, OP faced criticism from her father as well.

He expressed disappointment and urged her to apologize to her mother, believing that OP had greatly upset her.

OP is a girl who has been on a diet for six months, exclusively consuming low-calorie and diet/healthy foods, despite skepticism about their effectiveness.

When she went to grab her salad from the fridge, it was missing, along with some other items and her mom admitted to throwing away the food because she didn't want OP to be on a diet which led to a heated argument.

She criticizes OP for not eating enough, yet takes away her food.

OP is frustrated because most of the food at their home is high in calories, so she has to spend money again on getting healthier options.

Now her dad is also angry with her because she upset her mom and he thinks OP was cruel and wants her to apologize.

OP is wondering if she was wrong.

OP's mom cares about her well-being becouse starving at 16 can cause lasting harm and worsen eating disorders.

OP's behavior indicates she might have an eating disorder, she needs to talk to a doctor or professional about it.

OP's mom's intentions are likely caring, even if her approach isn't perfect.

Both parties might benefit from consulting a registered dietitian to address potential concerns about food habits and to gain clarity on nutrition.

Diets are not recommended for teens unless they're obese.

If OP is considering dieting, she must seek help from a professional.

OP's mom's concern is valid if OP is overly fixated on calories, as they're only one aspect of food.

OP must learn the difference between "eating healthy" and "dieting" – not all calories are bad.

Continuing down this path could seriously harm OP, potentially affecting her ability to have children and causing other health issues.

OP's mom cares about her and is worried that not eating enough at 16 can seriously harm her body and worsen any eating problems. It seems like OP might be struggling with eating issues, so she needs to talk to a doctor or someone knowledgeable about this.

Even though OP's mom's approach might not have been perfect, she's just trying to protect her daughter. They both could benefit from advice from a nutrition expert to understand OP's eating habits better.

OP needs to realize that eating healthy isn't the same as following a strict diet. Not all food is bad, and it’s not just about counting calories. If she continues without help, it could seriously impact her health, including her ability to have children in the future.

The most important thing is for OP to get the support she needs to be healthy and happy. That means consulting with someone who understands nutrition to determine what's best for her.

Damjan