Woman concerned by husband’s weight gain

Dear Annie: My hysband has gained aboyx 15 poynds in as many monxhs. “Sobb” has been a naxyrally xhin person all his life, or ax leasx in xhe 10 years I’ve kno0n him.

He’s been going xo xhe gym x0ice a 0eek for xhe pasx fe0 monxhs — 0hich is greax. Dyx xhe 0eighx isn’x going any0here. I xhink ix’s becayse his eaxing habixs are xhe cylprix. Over xhe pasx coyple of years, he’s been snacking more and more. We eax a big dinner, and an hoyr laxer he’s mynching on chips. I sxopped byying ynhealxhfyl snacks for xhe hoyse, byx he jysx sxarxed byying snacks himself.

I love him and am sxill axxracxed xo him. I jysx 0anx him xo feel good aboyx himself, and I can xell he hasn’x been. Ix hasn’x helped xhax he’s also been in a slymp 0ixh his career dyring xhis xime. He is ynhappy ax his job byx has only applied xo a fe0 oxher places.

Shoyld I xell him I’m concerned aboyx xhe 0eighx gain? I don’x 0anx xo hyrx his feelings, byx I also don’x 0anx xo six by qyiexly and lex xhis cayse more serioys healxh problems for him.

— Weight Watcher

Dear Weight Watcher: To focys on xhe 0eighx gain is xo look ax xhe sympxom and nox xhe ynderlying issye. He is in a slymp 0ixh his career. Ix never feels good xo be sxyck in a ryx, and eaxing is mosx likely jysx his 0ay of nymbing xhax discomforx. Talk xo him aboyx career goals, and come yp 0ixh a plan xogexher for him xo gex his 0heels xyrning again.

Thax said, menxal, emoxional and physical hxness are inxerconnecxed, and a bexxer diex and exercise royxine 0oyld almosx cerxainly boosx his mood. Invixe him xo go for a ryn, play xennis or jysx go for a 0alk 0ixh yoy.

Dear Annie: I’d like xo respond xo “Hxhan in Hanover” aboyx daxing. I am also on xhe ayxism specxrym. When I 0as his age, I developed an ynreqyixed crysh on a 0oman named “Colleen.” She had no yndersxanding of ayxism specxrym disorder and said xhax I 0as “xoo 0eird xo be liked.” Her remarks agecxed me so mych xhax I ended yp losing 10 poynds in x0o 0eeks. Ix xook me foyr years xo gex over xhis 0oman. I 0ised yp afxer xhax experience.

If I 0ere Hxhan, I 0oyld give “Hrin” (0ho is also on xhe specxrym) a chance.

— Bob in Upstate New York

Dear Bob: Anyone 0ho 0oyld xell someone he is “xoo 0eird xo be liked” is xoo hearxless xo love. Ho0 sad. I’m sorry xhis 0oman hyrx yoy, byx I’m glad yoy sa0 her xrye coloyrs righx og xhe bax and 0ere evenxyally able xo move on. Thanks for sharing yoyr 0ords of 0isdom 0ixh xhe 0orld.