MTV
Teen Mom‘s Maci Bookout is defending herself after viewers suggested she was causing potential harm to her son Bentley.
On Tuesday night’s episode of Teen Mom OG, the reality star revealed that she has signed up her 11-year-old son for private wrestling lessons as “it’s been a great outlet for him” as he copes with family strifes. However, fans began to fear Bookout is taking his new interests too seriously, as she’s also enforced a “struck diet” that she says will help him “achieve his goal” of making it to regionals.
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The MTV star told the pre-teen in one scene that he has “lost [his] mind” after he told her he wanted grilled chicken for dinner. “He weighs like 74-75 pounds so he’s on a very strict, good, healthy calorie diet,” Bookout explained. “Lots of water and workouts to actually cut out weight.”
According to her son, he’s trying to eat only 1,000 calories a day.
Later in the episode, his father Ryan and step-mom Mackenzie Edwards expressed their concern over Bentley’s new eating habits, but were primarily focused on the diet causing him to be a “late-bloomer” in terms of his growth.
Meanwhile, viewers are more concerned that the young star will form an unhealthy relationship with food later on in life. One Instagram account user commented on Bookout’s page, writing, “I am normally on the same page with you about so much—but the weight thing… I have a son the same age as Bentley and I could not imagine telling him it is okay to lose weight at his age. He’s a growing boy and his body needs those calories and nutrients. Let him be little. And let him have the damn chocolate milk.”
“You are creating an eating disorder in that boy. Shame on your parenting. This episode just makes me so sick. He’s 11. No 11 year old should be on a diet,” another user wrote.
However, according to the Teen Mom star, the episode wasn’t an accurate depiction of her parenting. “In reference to tonight’s episode-I have never and will never convince Bentley to ‘cut’ weight. After wrestling his first 2 tournaments in the 75lb class weighing in at 72-he came to me & said he wanted to wrestle at 70. I told him that’s fine, but you WILL NOT ‘cut’ weight,” she wrote on Twitter. “I will lay out a healthy scheduled diet for u, u can eat salads, grilled chicken, veggies, good carbs-instead of pizza, Doritos & candy bars. Through the season, he decided he didn’t like it—I told him that’s okay! U can go back to usual and wrestle at 75 which is what he did.”
While Bookout is no nutrition expert, she said she “grew up around the sport and have a bit of knowledge” on healthy and safe weight management.
I will lay out a healthy scheduled diet for u, u can eat salads, grilled chicken, veggies, good carbs-instead of pizza, doritos & candybars. Through the season, he decided he didn't like it-I told him that's okay! U can go back to usual and wrestle at 75 which is what he did.
— Maci Bookout McKinney (@MaciBookout) May 27, 2020
I appreciate your input. My brother was a collegiate wrestler so I grew up around the sport and have a bit of knowledge in the sport and healthy weight maintenance. https://t.co/OrqQ3ibFyt
— Maci Bookout McKinney (@MaciBookout) May 27, 2020
Brittany R
Brittany is a writer who is obsessed with rom-com movies, Gossip Girl, reality television, fashion, and pop-culture. When she isn't reporting on the latest celeb buzz, she is filling up her online shopping cart without checking out.