1 Child underweight and another child above average

[Alwaystiredandgrumpy]

Looking for some general advice. I have a 9 year who is 3rd Percentile BMI and a 7 year old who is 80th percentile BMI

Both are offered the same food - have noticed that the older one eats slightly less. At school, I give the younger one only one slice of bread for his sandwich, older one gets 2 slices. Other lunchbox stuff is identical. But at home I struggle to give them different quantities (and I don't want to make a big deal of it, but I would like the give the younger one less, and older one more!)

The 9 year old doesn't sit still at home, whereas the younger one is happy to sit and play/watch TV.

Both do the same active activities - Cubs/Beavers, Swimming, Football. Both run around at home playing, but the younger one is more prone to putting weight on.

I know he isn't overweight, but I want to make sure he doesn't head that way, and I want to boost the older one's weight.

We've always treated them both the same (and this extends to food) so how do I tackle this? Or do I just leave it alone, and hope it doesn't turn into an issue?

We are all vegetarian.

This is my first ever thread btw, although been lurking for years.

Thanks in advance!

[Alwaystiredandgrumpy]

Have asked for this to be moved to Parenting as it probably fits better there.

[firesidechat]

If the eldest child is having plenty of food and a well balanced diet, then I wouldn't try to build his weight up at all. Both of mine were naturally skinny and we just went with the flow because trying to make them fatter would have possibly involved even more rubbish food.

I'm afraid I don't know much about vegetarian diets for children, but I would make sure (from an expert?) that they were getting enough calories in the food they were already having.

[LizzieMint]

I wouldn't worry about giving them different quantities, I do this with my eldest two. The older one eats much less, so her packed lunch is about half the size of the younger ones - they don't mind because they know how much they each feel like eating. Don't make comments on it related to weight though, just appetite maybe?

[Alwaystiredandgrumpy]

Thanks both

Yes, that's true, bulking up the older one will mean more rubbish food - so that's probably not a good idea.

Good idea to talk about appetite rather than weight. (Although, we weighed them at the same time, and they both thought it was hilarious that the younger one weighed slightly more!)

[Joylin]

Provide healthy food, let them eat what they want and and make sure they get plenty of exercise, then let them be. I know more than a few fat people who were overfed crap because they were skinny children. The focus should be on being strong, healthy and full of energy. There'll always be a variation of healthy sizes due to genetics, natural appetite and energy levels, if they're being fed well and exercised enough ( some kids need to be pushed on that) they'll be a healthy weight for their body type.

[Alwaystiredandgrumpy]

yes, you're right - I should push him on being more active and not worry about this too much.

It just amazes me that 2 siblings can be so different in terms of physicality.

[tobysmum77]

the recent nhs letter I received said that underweight is below 2nd centile. It seems to have moved?

[Alwaystiredandgrumpy]

Sorry my mistake. DS1 isn't quite underweight.