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Mumsnet doesn't verify the qualifications of users. If you have medical concerns, please consult a healthcare professional.

Children's health

My son has Moobs

70 replies

Bobjames200411 · 17/12/2016 10:09

Moobs/Obese
I have written about this before but am looking for new oppinions and something's have changed.So recently I saw my son with out his top on and I was shocked he had moobs but they weren't small they where big and he had a big stomach. So I weighed him and he was 71kg and I measured his height and it was 161cm and put it into the NHS BMW and it said very overweight
. Know I knew all about this but I spoke to him and he said he didn't think he needed to do anything and that there is another boy in his class that are the same size and bigger.
I am in total shock about the way he looks and am questioning what to do co he doesn't want to do anything.

OP posts:

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PeteSwotatoes · 17/12/2016 10:10

How old is he OP?

sooperdooper · 17/12/2016 10:27

If he's still in school he's young enough for you to do something about it OP, it's irrelevant what size another child is, he's your responsibility and you have to act.

New year is a perfect opportunity to start some new healthy eating habits and encourage him to be more active - does he play any sports? :)

Bobjames200411 · 17/12/2016 10:53

HE is 12 I see it strange that there are that many children obese though

OP posts:

MavisTheToreador · 17/12/2016 19:34

Hi Bobjames200411 I'm so relieved to find your post, I'm going through the same problem with my son.

I think my portion sizes may be off. Also, I need to find a way to get him exercising more. We walk a mile and a half to school most days. He goes swimming once a week but apart from that he doesn't enjoy sport. He likes reading, drawing and computer games.

I'm getting worried.

Bobjames200411 · 17/12/2016 19:49

I think that I just don't know why. I was quite shocked by the amount he weighed have you weighed him and showed him that might try to motivate him more that's what I tried to do with my son.

OP posts:

MavisTheToreador · 17/12/2016 19:57

I've weighed him but said nothing. I didn't want to upset him.

Bobjames200411 · 17/12/2016 20:01

Yeah. It is so upsetting sometimes. Do u mind sharing his weight?
I find that DS gets things from shops on the way home from school and at school is there anyway of him doing that?

OP posts:

CauliflowerSqueeze · 17/12/2016 20:01

You don't need to motivate him, at age 12 you are in charge of his meals and can increase his activity levels hugely without him really realising. He might say he doesn't want to do anything about it but inside he will want to be normal size. Stop talking to him about it and just do what you can with portion size, cutting out sugary drinks and snacks and get him joined up to some sport clubs.

CauliflowerSqueeze · 17/12/2016 20:02

You can stop him buying sweets on the way to and from school by not giving him any money to do so. At 12 this is not a problem.

Bobjames200411 · 17/12/2016 20:04

I think you are under estimating how hard it actually is have u had any experience?

OP posts:

NiceFalafels · 17/12/2016 20:05

Don't give him money. Give him a paked lunch with snack.

NiceFalafels · 17/12/2016 20:05

How does he get to school?

NiceFalafels · 17/12/2016 20:06

What does he do at home? Screen time? Activity wise?

Are you overweight?

PacificDogwod · 17/12/2016 20:07

He knows he's overweight - he is comparing himself to another overweight boy in his class to comfort himself.

Stop weighing him - you know have a baseline and that's enough weighing.
At 12 he has the massive advantage that he will carry on growing, and may well have a growth spurt coming.
He needs to maintain his weight, not lose weight.
What you are trying to do is get him to get rid of fat while increasing his lean body mass.

Reduce portion size.
Reduce 'empty' calories, in particular unnecessary carbs.
If he is anything like my 12 and 13 yo their 'lunches' outside of school seem to consist of chips and curry sauce , so I make sure they have decent meals at home.
Fizzy drinks - is he taking a lot of them?

My DS2(12) is a little overweight, and was more overweight than he is now. HE became aware of it himself, and is now very clearly cutting down on crap - he still eats like a horse (and so he should: he's overtaken his older brother in height and is closing in on their dad ).

Exercise is a good thing, of course, but for weight loss look at what he eats and drinks. Sport is good for fitness and gaining muscle (lean mass) and socially, so I'm all for it.

It is not normal to have moobs at that age (or any age actually), but it is becoming more common so sadly often 'normalised'.

DearMrDilkington · 17/12/2016 20:09

I wouldn't have said anything about his weight tbh, 12 is a prime age for eating disorders to start so I think that was a bad move. He'll be horribly self conscious now you've said something to him.

Don't mention his weight anymore, just get rid of all the junk in the house and restrict treats for the weekend. Make sure you are giving him appropriate portion sizes and cut out all fizzy drinks. Try to get him to join a sport club too.

DearMrDilkington · 17/12/2016 20:11

If you use full fat milk then switch to the semi skimmed as well.

Blacksox · 17/12/2016 20:11

Wow - for context, he weighs more than my 6ft 18 year old.

You need to address this now, before you set him up for life with weight problems.

No sweets, cut down on carbs, reduce portion sizes. I would have no problem telling my son if he were overweight.

ggirl · 17/12/2016 20:12

actually it is normal for boys in puberty to have moobs

but small ones

ggirl · 17/12/2016 20:12

Littlelamplight · 17/12/2016 20:12

Stop giving him any money, tell him you will provide a snack when he comes home. He can eat breakfast and then won't need to buy any thing on the way to school. A bowl of porridge with skimmed milk and fruit. Toast with marmite/butter not jam or Nutella type stuff

What does he have for school dinner? Do you have an app you can monitor it on?

Snack when he gets home, fruit, yogurt, bagel with cream cheese. One of them not all!

Dinner at 5.30. Really think about portions. No bigger than the size of his fist except for veg. One protein, one carb and lots of veg. Lose any fat sauces, butter, creams. Dessert can be fruit or yogurt,

Small snack before bed if hungry.

Water, milk (skimmed) or squash for all drinks.

More exercise. Much much more. If you can get him ourside between home time and dinner. Walking, kicking a ball, trampoline, basketball in a hoop in the garden, if he won't go out then get him hoovering. At least 30 mins a day in addition to the walking.

Slightly relaxed at weekends, holiday, birthdays. But not over the top,

It doesn't matter if there are fatter kids at school. They aren't your responsibility. This weight problem is setting him up for a lifetime of issues. You can still tackle it now.

Bobjames200411 · 17/12/2016 20:13

My son gets to school via a bus. At home he watches to YouTube most evenings. I am encouraging him to go on walks out and about and short runs. And he does pe at school. I think one of the problems is that he gets embarrassed getting changed/ doing activity. No I am not overweight

OP posts:

DearMrDilkington · 17/12/2016 20:15

What about going for a bike ride? You could bike to somewhere he wants to go to(cinema,arcade,etc) as a motivation to go.

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DearMrDilkington · 17/12/2016 20:16

Swimming is brilliant exercise as well once he gets more confident with his body.

NiceFalafels · 17/12/2016 20:16

Can he get off the bus a bit earlier so that he walks part way.

PacificDogwod · 17/12/2016 20:17

Yes, pubescent boys can have breast buds.
They can be on only one side, or both sides.
They can be tender.
They are NOT moobs, or not my understanding of moobs

If the OP's son is 71kg at a height of 161cm he IS overweight and his moobs are likely fat and not hormonally activated breast buds that disappear again when hormones settle down.

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