It's inappropriate to hit him, period. He's a good student, he has friends, he made this really cool computer with your dad but he plays more than you like and he's got some fat on him. Overall, he sounds like a pretty good kid.

My darling Wishbone, you want your brother to have a good life and not turn into one of those kids who sits in their room gaming with no other life. I understand that. But he does have a life. It's just not what you like. Maybe you know (and maybe cared about) someone who turned out badly because they got too hooked on gaming? Is that possible? And you don't want the same thing to happen to your little bro?

If you have concerns about his his health or physique or if you worry about his well-being, please bring it up with your mom and/or dad. Let them handle it.

But there are things you can do. Invite your bother to go on outings, to take walks or whatever kind of exercise you engage in. Help him, gently, make good food choices by sharing your good food choices with him. It's a very powerful motivator to have an older sibling want to do things with you and share food with you -- in a gentle, loving, fun manner.

If you lock his computer, yell at him and hit him, then you become the annoying sibling in the household and a few years from now he might be here at psychcentral complaining about being abused by you. I mean, how would you feel if that stuff was done to you?

Be the good sibling here. Love him, help him, share your activities and good choices with him. Then please come back and tell us how he responds.

There are a lot of really smart and experienced people here, people who have had to figure out some tough life problems. I'm really sure people will be glad to help you figure out positive ways to be a good influence on your brother. If one thing doesn't work, then people will help you figure out another.

Next time you make yourself a healthy snack, maybe think about making enough for two and sharing it with him. That way you can help him eat the right foods. That's a really nice thing for a sibling to do. Take care. I wish you the best.