my son is 13 1/2 and used to be so self confident. He is 240 pounds and about 5'10". Yes, he is rather large for his age. Of course, he is a football player and loves it. My problem is that something seems to be wrong and the more I try to figure it out the more upset he gets. He started lifting weights to tone himself. Now he got stretch marks under his upper arm area. He refuses to take off his shirt in front of anyone. He has been like this for about 2 years or so. It really upsets me because he won't tell me what is wrong with his body or maybe I am overreacting. If I remember from many years ago, I think he has inverted nipples. I think the kids in school pick on him not only for this but for his size. Kids are always calling him fat, etc. It breaks my heart because I was throuh it also as a child. I do not know what to do for him. If I even bring up the idea of going to a doctor to see about his chest area, he gets very mad. He has never said about his chest but I feel him not taking off his shirt is all that needs to be said. He compares himself to his peers who are all short and thin. He has always been bigger than the rest of his peers. He does not hang around with them anymore and I don't understand it. IT is like he withdrew from them. He does have one friend that he seems to associate with but as for the rest he seems to have cut ties with them. It could be a way to get away from the picking on him. My daughter goes swimming at the town pool and boys from my son's class come up to her and ask "where is your fat beast of a brother?". This just is ripping me up inside. My son is very intelligent and he is not a junk food kid. I know he should exercise more but that causes more fights.
Any ideas?