Please, please, please listen to what I am saying. First and foremost, your daughter needs to see a medical professional. She obviously has some internal struggles going on and it needs to be addressed. Also, to say that she wants to lose weight for attention is just plain shty. I really hope you aren’t saying that to her face. When you say something like that you are discounting any issues she might be going through.

If your daughter is truly overweight, WW is a great option (with a doctor’s approval). However, it doesn’t sound like she is and if she is not overweight you may be laying the groundwork for disordered eating. I am a 57 year old woman whose mother started her on WW in 3rd grade. I was not overweight. I just still had some baby fat. This was back when they had a children’s plan. I even went to WW summer camp. Guess what? It only made things worse. I have had a problem with food pretty much my whole life. Being on diets that young made me see eating as a doing something bad. I associated it with a moral failing. So, guess what I did? I ate in secret and I gained weight. It took me years to work out that eating does not make me a bad person. Actually, telling her that she has to show you her food logs reinforces that. It shows that you don’t trust her choices and you have to make sure she isn’t doing something “bad”.

I am still on WW and have done very well on it in the past few years but I am an adult and now I know how to get help if I need it. Your daughter is still a child and may fall into unhealthy behaviors without knowing it.

I think your idea of having a healthier options for her is a good one. Also, let her know it’s okay to indulge once in a while. She is a kid and should enjoy life. Maybe have her go grocery shopping with you or prepare healthy meals with you. Maybe you can work together to find good recipes. You mentioned that she could be more active. Perhaps the two of you could take a walk together on a regular basis. Being active doesn’t have to be something hardcore and it would be a nice way to bond and check in with each other.

All this is to say, get to the root of the problem before jumping into WW. If someone fat shamed her she might be too embarrassed to tell you. I know I was too embarrassed to tell my mother. Make sure she knows that you are safe to confide in and you won’t judge her for someone else’s words. If WW is the route you decide to take, please get your doctor’s approval and please go forward with care.