Weight loss in children

[womanmeetsnappies]

Hello internet mothers, I have two boys one is 7 and the other 4 however they differentiate in terms of size and weight. My 7 year old has a very big appetite, and is often not satisfied even after a large portion of a home made dinner. Yesterday, he asked for a biscuit and I refused and he threatened me that he will go to the cupboard at night and get some snacks without me watching. I don't know what's going on, and I struggle to have any control over his eating habits. because he instead turns aggressive and distant. Bearing in mind the weight increase is very dramatic and he has a height of 128cm with a weight of 31kg Any help?

[Sirzy]

When he makes the threats how do you respond?

[Boulshired]

I had one child who at one stage if he knew there was sweet things in the cupboard he could not stop asking, so I removed them and stopped buying. at meals his plate would be full of veg. Strangely he is the one I least worry about now eating wise. He went through two overeating stage at 7 and again at 11. He is now 6 ft 3 with a 30 inch waist.

[womanmeetsnappies]

Sirzy When he makes the threats I usually send him to his room, and then cry in my pillow at night. I tell him it's wrong, and that I'm doing it for his own good. I am so hopeless when he does it, and it's weird because his teachers always talk about how lovely he is during school-time.

[womanmeetsnappies]

Boulshired That's a good idea, if only my child would be like yours. I always have a balanced meal, but from being a toddler he hated vegetables and refused to chew them. I try to fool him by substituting junk for veggies and fizzy drinks for water but he wants sugary and fattening items. I once brought a pack of oreos for myself and when I went to check up on him in his room- his entire mouth was covered in crumbs and he attempted to hide the packet even though I already saw. His response to my shock was- "can you let me eat my god damn oreos in peace woman?".

[DonkeyOaty]

"Here's some food you can't have"

Kinder to not buy it, yes?

[womanmeetsnappies]

DonkeyOaty I tried to stop buying it but as a family we visit the supermarket every weekend and pick up the groceries. I always aim to buy healthy foods but my 7 year old always picks up the stuff that's bad for your health, even if I tell him that he can't. Once I told him "no" in public and he started screaming for oreos and throwing them onto the ground. That is why I can't stop buying them. And I don't think that avoiding sweet products is the key to their restriction from a child's diet. He has to be aware that you can have it as a reward, if you have a balanced diet and no weight issues.

[Sirzy]

So he tantrums in the supermarket because he knows he will then get what he wants.

If you want the situation to change you need to be the one to take control. Limit what is in the house and how much is eaten.

[NerrSnerr]

I'd stop the family trips to the supermarket. I'd have one parent go by themselves or order online. Instead I'd use the time in the park or swimming.

[womanmeetsnappies]

I told him today that I will stop bringing him with me to the supermarket if he continues to behave the way he does. He also has vegetable lasagne with salad tonight so we will see how that goes. Also got rid of all the sweets from the cupboard and they not remain hidden. I just hope he doesn't start looking around in the trash again, though.

[Boulshired]

I do not agree with food as a reward, it is what starts emotionally eating. It is really difficult to get a balance, at present he seems to have too much power.

[womanmeetsnappies]

NerrSnerr I signed him up to a football club because he likes to watch it, but he started to verbally attack boys and bite them because he wanted to be just like Suarez. He goes swimming though

[womanmeetsnappies]

Boulshired Do you recommend I start rewarding him in other ways?

[TieGrr]

What's his typical daily diet like?

[Boulshired]

It was not until a parent myself I realised just how screwed up my relationship with food was. Instead of being satisfied with a meal my mum would reward my eating with more eating. Food for being good, for being hurt - the list goes on, the only common theme was sugar. I was very active as a child so I could handle it but why I have spent all my adult life dieting. DP on the other hand and all his family eat at mealtimes and rarely eat in between and if you ask if they want something they think about whether they are hungry or not and if you say no to a piece of cake that's fine (my mum would have cried and ate all the cake at the snub).

[lastqueenofscotland]

Do not reward him with food he is a child not a dog.

If he tantrums in the supermarket and you buy the Oreos/threatens you to give him biscuits and you give him them what message do you think that's giving him?

[womanmeetsnappies]

Thanks ladies, I've started being more restrictive in terms of his diet and he no longer throws tantrums when he doesn't get his daily dose of a lot of sugar, through candy. Mummy Gertrude is now in control #Mummypower