False. Humans need decent hours of sleep to function properly and especially if you have school/classes or a job to attend to, you must get sleep so you can gain energy. In your sleep you breathe, and when you breathe for the amount of hours you actually lose weight.
In planning a weight management program that has the best chance of success, you must be committed, and stick to a precise schedule.
Maybe because the mother doesn’t speak up and/or feels ashamed of her feelings.