A 12-Year-Old's Struggle with Morbid Obesity | Our America with Lisa Ling | Oprah Winfrey Network

Summary

This emotional video follows 12-year-old Briana, who faces bullying and serious health risks due to her morbid obesity. Despite her desire to lose weight, her family struggles with unhealthy eating habits, influenced by their upbringing and lack of knowledge about healthier food choices. Briana's mother, Chanel, is learning to rethink her family's diet, but making lasting changes is a challenge. With doctors warning of potential life-threatening issues, the family faces the ultimate question: will they be able to make the necessary adjustments before it's too late for Briana?

Takeaways

• 😀 A 12-year-old girl, Brianna, faces bullying due to her weight, which negatively impacts her self-esteem.
• 😀 Brianna is repeatedly called names like 'fat linebacker' by her peers, contributing to emotional distress.
• 😀 Brianna's mother, Chanel, is deeply concerned about her daughter's health and the effects of bullying.
• 😀 Brianna weighs 325 pounds, and her doctor warns that her health is at risk, with potential consequences like diabetes and heart disease.
• 😀 At 12 years old, Brianna is considered morbidly obese, with 52% of her body mass being fat.
• 😀 Brianna expresses a desire to lose weight due to constant teasing, showing a level of self-awareness about her health.
• 😀 Chanel, Brianna's mother, acknowledges that she was not taught about healthy food choices, having learned to cook traditional soul food instead.
• 😀 Chanel is unaware of how to shop for healthier ingredients and often purchases canned food, which is not ideal for weight loss.
• 😀 Fresh vegetables are often overlooked by the family, as Chanel is more accustomed to buying canned goods like greens and lettuce.
• 😀 Chanel realizes the importance of changing their eating habits as a family to help Brianna lose weight and improve her health, recognizing the potential life-or-death consequences.

Q & A

What are some of the challenges Briana faces in her daily life?

Briana faces bullying at school due to her weight, which affects her emotionally. The bullying causes her to feel both sad and angry, highlighting the struggle many children experience with body shaming.

How does Briana feel when she learns about her weight at the doctor's office?

Briana is shocked and upset when she learns that she weighs 325 pounds. As a 12-year-old, she cannot comprehend how she could have gained so much weight, which indicates her confusion and concern about her health.

What health risks does Briana face due to her obesity?

Briana is at risk for serious health problems, including diabetes, heart disease, and other conditions that could significantly shorten her life if not addressed.

What is Briana’s mother’s role in addressing her daughter’s health concerns?

Briana’s mother, Chanel, is concerned for her daughter’s well-being and is attempting to make changes to their family’s eating habits in order to help Briana lose weight and improve her health.

Why is Chanel struggling to make healthier food choices for her family?

Chanel was never taught how to cook with a focus on health, as she was raised on soul food, which is often high in fat and calories. This lack of knowledge makes it difficult for her to make healthier decisions for her family.

What role does the grocery store play in Chanel’s journey to healthier eating?

At the grocery store, Chanel realizes that she doesn’t know how to select healthier food options. She often defaults to canned foods, which are not as nutritious as fresh options, and struggles to find and buy fresh vegetables.

What dietary habits does Chanel admit to that may be contributing to the family’s unhealthy eating?

Chanel admits that she frequently buys canned foods and tends to fry vegetables like cabbage instead of preparing them in healthier ways, such as boiling or grilling them.

How is Briana’s situation a reflection of a broader issue in society?

Briana’s story reflects the growing issue of childhood obesity in the U.S. For the first time in American history, children may have shorter lifespans than their parents due to the rise in obesity and related health problems.

What changes is Chanel attempting to make in her family’s lifestyle?

Chanel is trying to change the way her family eats by learning to prepare healthier meals, avoid processed foods, and make better choices in the grocery store. She is also trying to encourage Briana to adopt healthier habits.

What does Briana’s mother realize about her responsibility as a parent?

Chanel realizes that as a parent, it is her responsibility to protect her child, not just emotionally but also physically, by making sure her family makes healthier food choices to avoid serious health risks in the future.