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Original poster

Two Year old “overweight”

133 replies

oopsididitagain66 · 19/03/2026 20:22

My son had his two year review last week, at which his weight and height was recorded. The nurse went on to tell me that after working out his BMI which was “very high” so he was overweight and suggested I see a nutritionist. He is a healthy happy boy, maybe a bit on the chunky side but absolutely nothing unusual in my eyes. I assume by pointing us towards a nutritionist it was to help him lose weight. I politely declined as he has a very healthy, varied diet at home and eats well.

Is this the norm?

OP posts:
Spaghettea · 19/03/2026 20:33

"maybe a bit on the chunky side" . It doesn't take much to tip a toddler into overweight.

If you and his dad have overweight BMI's then there's a risk he will grow up carrying too much weight too.

Original poster
oopsididitagain66 · 19/03/2026 20:33

RedToothBrush · 19/03/2026 20:27

By very high what does this actually mean? What centile was he born on? What is he on now? Keeping in mind that centiles actually mean that someone can be perfectly healthy if at the high end if this reflects their parents and their birth weight etc.

I think putting a two year old on a diet is alarming unless there's a real issue. Unfortunately there's a lot of shit HCP in this area who haven't got the foggiest what they are talking about. They've clearly not explained what they think the problem is to you well.

What are his portion sizes like? Cos that's what I'd focus on and that's something you can do without the bullshit.

He has been consistently on the 95th centile since 6 months old.
I didn’t even know doing BMI at this age was a thing. I think his portion sizes are normal and he eats lots of fruit and veg. Still very fond of his (cows) milk so maybe I’ll look at cutting this back a bit.

OP posts:
Sunshineclouds11 · 19/03/2026 20:32

happened with my son, his legs and arms are fine he's always had a belly.
he has slimmed down as he's got older. Not as skinny as majority of his age but he's fine.

at first I was scared, didn't put him on a diet as such but I was more aware of putting more veg on his plate than usual.
hes always been active but tried to up the out door time.

i think just being abit more aware of what he's having and exercise and he'll be fine.
i agree that it's a tick box they have to do and it's something you can control unless he is extremely overweight

Elizabeta · 19/03/2026 20:29

There are some really alarmingly overweight 2 year olds around.

It could be a fuss over nothing; you could be underestimating his size and the healthiness of what he eats; or he could have a medical condition making him larger. None of us know.

Caterpillarhopping · 19/03/2026 20:29

If a health professional thinks he's overweight then please don't decline the support. 2 year olds shouldn't be chunky.

RedToothBrush · 19/03/2026 20:27

By very high what does this actually mean? What centile was he born on? What is he on now? Keeping in mind that centiles actually mean that someone can be perfectly healthy if at the high end if this reflects their parents and their birth weight etc.

I think putting a two year old on a diet is alarming unless there's a real issue. Unfortunately there's a lot of shit HCP in this area who haven't got the foggiest what they are talking about. They've clearly not explained what they think the problem is to you well.

What are his portion sizes like? Cos that's what I'd focus on and that's something you can do without the bullshit.

WhateverMate · 19/03/2026 20:26

Are you and/or his dad overweight?

I think by suggesting a nutritionist they just have to be seen to be doing something, given how many overweight families there are.

vincettenoir · 19/03/2026 20:24

I’m not sure. I don’t remember having a two year review for mine.