Dear Annie: I have a beautiful ten-year-old daughter, “Lisa”. The problem is, she is teased by other children. She is tall and very slim for her age, but they call her “fat”.I didn’t think Lisa would take it to heart, but my husband and I noticed she began controlling her portions at dinner. We explained to her that she was healthy and very active and maybe these kids had other issues and were taking it out on her. Then, the next day, a boy at school called her “fat”. Lisa informed me that she did not eat her lunch that day and hid cookies from the school bake sale so no one would see her eat them.

My daughter is 4ft 9in and weighs 89 pounds. She’s lost six pounds in the last couple of weeks. What can I do? Why does society put so much pressure on children that a ten-year-old would lose weight when she doesn’t need to? I’m scared this might get worse. What can I do? — Worried Mom in Derby, Kansa>Dear Mom$>You are right to be worried, because Lisa is at risk of developing a serious eating disorder. We saw the photograph you sent, and your daughter is truly lovely (tell her we said so) and quite obviously doesn’t need to lose any weight. Children tease to get a reaction — and Lisa is giving it to them, which means they will continue until she learns to ignore these nasty, idiotic remarks. In the meantime, discuss this with your paediatrician, and also, please talk to the school counsellor and principal. This is a form of bullying and must stop.

Dear Anni<$>My wife’s grandmother is in her 70s and has lived with my in-laws for decades. Recently we’ve all noticed that Granny has been wearing the same outfit for weeks at a time, even though she has plenty of other clothes. My mother-in-law has offered to do her laundry as a subtle hint, but this same unwashed outfit continues to make a daily appearance. She also is obviously letting her hair go, too. My wife tells me Granny has never been a messy person.My wife and I are assuming that either her mind is starting to slip a little or she’s depressed. If either is true, how do we talk to Granny about this? We don’t know what to do for fear of upsetting her. — Worried about Gry<$>Dear Worr: <$>Bless you for paying attention to these changes and understanding what likely is going on. Someone should call Granny’s doctor and ask that she be evaluated immediately, and also have her checked for possible infection or reaction to medication.Granny may be wearing the same outfit because she is not capable of choosing another one. If she removes the clothing at night, someone can launder it while she’s sleeping, and replace it (in the same location) with clean clothes. As for her hair, make an appointment for Granny with a hairdresser and simply bring her, saying sweetly and calmly, “You’re going to get your hair done. You’ll look beautiful.” Or, you can do the same thing at home, telling her you’re going to try a special shampoo.Dear Ae: <$>I’m writing in response to “Proud Paramedic”, who said there is no such thing as an “ambulance driver”, because paramedics and EMTs drive the ambulance.I am an ambulance driver, and not trained as an EMT or a paramedic. My sole job is to get the two EMTs wherever they need to go, as safely and quickly as possible. I was specifically trained for this job, and had to take a six-week driving course. I spend my life racing as fast as I can to help people, and I’d rather not have someone tell me I don’t exist. — Frustrated DriverDear Driver: Depending upon the area, there are ambulance drivers who are EMTs and others who are not. We appreciate every single one of you.