A mom: A nurse with nutritional education background. Her thesis in college was diabetes and is of average build, but as she gets older the weight slowly creeps up. Dad, slightly overweight has cholesterol issues, but refuses to follow what the Dr. has told him. The oldest son, overweight...17 years old, eats a box of cereal a night, struggles all his life with the yo yo dieting. Second son, average build is a bulemic, goes on to college and receive a masters in nutrition and is an alcoholic. He struggles with his weight as he approaches 60....a recovering alcoholic, obsessive exerciser. Third child, a daughter, 128 lbs., is a sneak sweets eater and 11 years old, she eventually, at 48, finds herself at 230 lbs. She would read nutrition books in her early twenties, when she was an anorexic. Fourth child, 8...thin....but develops a weight problem and drinking problem in his 40's. Recovering alcoholic. Weight under control, obsessive exerciser.

What should the parents have done differently?

At some point...we grow up...we become accountable for our own actions....