In a heartfelt letter to the “Ask Amy” advice column, a concerned mother grapples with the delicate issue of addressing her adult daughter’s weight gain. Amy Dickinson, renowned advice columnist, offers insight on navigating this sensitive topic.
The mother, whose daughter is in her 40s, expressed her concern over her daughter’s weight, attributing it partly to the challenges posed by the COVID-19 pandemic, which forced her to work from home. She estimates her daughter’s weight gain to be around 80 pounds. Both mother and daughter have faced their own struggles with weight throughout their lives.
Despite their close relationship, the mother admits that her attempts to broach the subject with her daughter have not yielded the desired results. She has offered to pay for a weight loss program, but her daughter consistently declines, insisting that she maintains a healthy diet and exercise regimen. The daughter did, however, agree to have her thyroid tested, which returned normal results.
The concerned mother, emphasizing her concern for her daughter’s health rather than her appearance, seeks advice from Amy Dickinson on how to address the issue gently. Dickinson commends the mother for her repeated attempts to bring up the topic kindly but ultimately advises her to cease these discussions.
Dickinson highlights that the daughter is already aware of her weight, given the mother’s previous mentions. She encourages the mother to unconditionally love and support her daughter without judgment.
In her response, Dickinson reinforces the importance of respecting boundaries and allowing her daughter to make her own choices regarding her health and well-being.
