It's abusive to torment daughter about weight

DEAR AMY: I am 17 years old. I am 5 foot 3 and weigh 130 pounds. I am perfectly comfortable with my body, and I like my size. However, every day my mom tells me I am fat and that I could "stand to lose 50 pounds and then some." I have told her to stop many times, but she still says, "Ewwww," and, "Look at how fat you are." She pokes, prods and pinches me in areas where I am not comfortable being touched. Sometimes, she pulls on the waistband of my pants and then lets go, similar to someone snapping the strap of your bra. She stands in the doorway when I'm changing and tells me how fat I am. How do I make her stop?Fatty

DEAR FATTY: What you describe is abusive. To harass you in this way about your weight is over the line.

I'm not even going to dignify your mother's assessment except to assure you that your weight is within the healthy range. You already know this.

No one should heckle you about your body's shape - or touch you in places you don't wish to be touched. You should tell your mother, "Please don't touch me; that makes me uncomfortable, and I want you to stop." Your mother should not watch you change.

Please talk to a trusted adult (preferably a professional counselor) who can help you.

DEAR AMY: You gave good advice to "Depressed" in encouraging her and her husband to get her drug-taking and thieving stepson out of their home and into a halfway house, which provides support while the addict gets back on his or her feet. We have been a part of Families Anonymous for quite a while, and it's made a difference. Visit familiesanony mous.org. GratefulDEAR GRATEFUL: Parents, family members and friends of addicts gain support and insight from each other. I highly recommend group support systems.