Weighty

Ive mentioned before that this summer my job was to babysit my cousin. Like any job, certain responsibilities come along with being her nanny. I have to make sure she is fed (of course), safe, clean (enough), happy, etc. One extra requirement I was told: to have her lose weight.

I personally, dont agree with this endeavor. I understand that she is a bit overweight but at six years old, I dont believe she needs to be on a diet or worrying about her weight and she does. It makes me hurt so badly inside when my aunt tells her shes fat or that she cant wear a two piece bathing suit because her stomach sticks out. She has to do extra exercise because her stomach rounds over her pants and today my aunt tells me she is out of kids clothing.

My cousin feels sad that she cant wear what other kids can and that my aunt yells at her when she doesnt exercise and her clothes are a bit snug or  when wants something to eat that might not be the healthiest.

You probably are imagining right now a GIANT 6 year old but that is not the case. She is not out of kids clothing because thats impossible. She is simply a bit stocky--giant by no means. But thats not what my aunt sees.

Let me put all this in a bit more perspective. In the past year or so, my aunt has basically become anorexic. She went from a small size 6 or 8 to barely a 2. She blames her tiny food intake on acid reflux and sensitivities to certain foods. She now only cares about the number on the scale and the size of the pants more than anything else.

Its becoming really difficult to deal with.

All she talks about is food, weight, being overweight, dieting, exercising and the like. Yesterday, my cousin accidentally left a grocery at the store when we went shopping. I got a tad angry because I had paid for it and the receipt had gotten thrown out and her response was "you dont need it anyway". Maybe I dont need it, but I paid for it and wanted it. What I put in my mouth is my business.

So, my aunts basic anorexia and my cousins chubbiness is too much. I cant stand the sadness my cousin feels about being fat. As someone who is overweight, I understand the pain that can come along with it and I would never want anyone so innocent, young and unknowing to have to deal with that.

I want to say something to my aunt because I am concerned for my cousins mental health but I'm nervous about the conversation too. Shes going to dismiss my cousins feelings and say that its a problem.

My aunt and I used to be very close and with her changing body has come a changing relationship and I am afraid this will make it strain even more.

In the end though, I kind of think my cousins well-being is more important but I remain torn. She wont do anything about her well-being and only think what she wants.

**Any opinions or advice?
Thank you for the help and listening to my rant about this problem. Its really bothering me.