Son has sugar addiction

echelon wrote:My 13 year old son appears to have a sugar addiction. He craves anything sugary and will steal food that he finds in the house/fridge. I have had to hide stuff in the shed to try and stop this

He is a bit overweight and not that fit.

He was diagnosed with adhd when younger and also has dyspraxia and aspergers traits. He has very poor self control and can't seem to limit his food intake. He has been like this since birth. He has normal intelligence and does understand that what he is doing is bad for him. His behaviour also spirals out of control when he's had sugar and we have just had a very bad weekend with him. I've now taken him off any sugar and he's settled down. He is particulary bad with chocolate.

Any ideas about what I can do to help him. He also has a nut allergy, so I can't give him nuts as snacks.

Any supplements that might help as well? I'm currently giving him 50mg of 5htp each night which seems to have settled him down a bit. He is prone to anxiety and miserableness even though he says his life is happy and he's not being bullied etc. He's more relaxed on the 5htp and his tics have stopped too.

Your son's addiction to sugar is all part of his ADHD, impulsivity, obesity. Please read:

Sugar Craving

ADHD and ADD, The Hyperactive Child By Dr Lendon Smith --> page 7

The Insulin and Obesity Controversy

I used to steal food as a child as well and hide them in my secret stashes to eat them later. It was so that I could hoard all the tasty treats/foods for myself.

I think the most effective solution would be to not purchase those types of foods. I know it would take a lot of effort on your part, but the only way you'd prevent him from continuing on this sugar-eating spree would be to conform your habits to his needs so that he can adjust. I know this is too much to ask for most parents, but it is what great parents would do for their children. That would mean adjusting your diet so that his diet is forcefully changed in the process. I'm assuming he doesn't have a job and no means of funds so he wouldn't be able to regularly purchase these foods either. After 3-6 months you should see progress and he should exhibit less inclination or cravings to these foods. Be sure that he does not replace sugary with fatty, which is a possibility, since they are tasty too.

An easier alternative would be to only purchase these foods in your office or something so that your child does not have any access at all to these foods. This would be easier on your part and would be probably just as effective.

After removing food, you should replace said habits with other rewarding activities so that he would attribute reward with another area in his life other than food.

I don't have Asperger's, so this may be harder to do in your circumstances. But I think it should be possible.

echelon wrote:My 13 year old son appears to have a sugar addiction. He craves anything sugary and will steal food that he finds in the house/fridge. I have had to hide stuff in the shed to try and stop this

He is a bit overweight and not that fit.

He was diagnosed with adhd when younger and also has dyspraxia and aspergers traits. He has very poor self control and can't seem to limit his food intake. He has been like this since birth. He has normal intelligence and does understand that what he is doing is bad for him. His behaviour also spirals out of control when he's had sugar and we have just had a very bad weekend with him. I've now taken him off any sugar and he's settled down. He is particulary bad with chocolate.

Any ideas about what I can do to help him. He also has a nut allergy, so I can't give him nuts as snacks.

Any supplements that might help as well? I'm currently giving him 50mg of 5htp each night which seems to have settled him down a bit. He is prone to anxiety and miserableness even though he says his life is happy and he's not being bullied etc. He's more relaxed on the 5htp and his tics have stopped too.

Your best bet is a consult with a nutritional Dr. Check he isnt diabetic or prediabetic. Chromium, magnesium and zinc can help but you shouldnt take anything without consulting a Dr as some supps can cause further imbalances.

Try to consult your doctor to check the sugar of your child and also to get some advice of the food preference for him.

I think it is the habit of alot of children, I remember I used to seek out of the sugary goodies when I was a kid too. Just don't buy really sugary thing and buy things which are low in fat but look like treats then he can only steal these things.