DD is overweight. advice pleaae

[Ismeyes]

DD (5) is overweight. I know this is no ones fault except mine and DH's so am prepared for any negative comments. I want to do something about it but I just don't know where to start. I don't think it is what she is eating, but portion size and amount. I just don't know what is the right amount, I'm clueless. She loves food, enjoys it and is not fussy in the slightest.

I'm planning on trying to increase her activity levels and limit tv.

I dont want to go overboard and make her feel something is wrong with her. I'm lost really. Would like to hear from anyone who has been through this or would like to give me some blunt advice.

[TheLadyEvenstar]

OP, your DD is the same height and 3lb heavier than my 3yr old DS2.
Now according to their BMI they are both overweight for their ages. However DS2 has not got an ounce of fat on him, is very active, eats very little hardly ever has treats as he prefers bananas to sweets/crisps etc.

A few months ago a dr was concerned at his weight BUT then looked at him and his height/build etc. He is in proportion so I am not concerned tbh. He is in 7yr olds clothes, and a size 12 shoe. The same size as my 7yr old nephew. He is not fat but is big for his age as well as tall and big footed.

[TheLadyEvenstar]

prefers bananas and oranges

[magicmummy1]

My dd (6) is the same height and weighs just over 17kg. She isn't underweight but not far off. TBH her diet doesn't seem that different from what your dd eats, including the odd treat at weekends etc. She is quite active - lots of dancing etc- but it doesn't sound as if your dd is sitting in front of the tv all the time either.

It sounds like your dd may just have an unfortunate build, but I agree that it might be worth keeping some sort if food diary to make sure that you know what she's really eating. And definitely try asking the gp, if you can do this discreetly. He/she may have some good advice.

[wfrances]

even though it sounds her food is very healthy she is getting more of it than she needs,
for instance why is she having a bannana with her cereal?
another question is she happy? my dn put on lots of weight when her parents were seperating through stress.
was she a low birth weight ?
could she have blood sugar problems?
your gp should be first call as hed rule all this sort of stuff out, but it may just be the amount not what she eats.
just read a newer post ,does she eat the same things as you and you are over weight?what does she eat on weekends?

[Callisto]

Wow, my DD (6yo) eats twice as much as yours and is nowhere near fat. She doesn't sit still though - always doing something and can run around the garden for 2 hours at a stretch.

Perhaps instead of a diet (which I think gives out so many wrong signals to children) you should make sure she gets more exercise of the heart-pumping, out-of-breath kind. TBH, an hours swimming once a week isn't anywhere near enough. And you shouldn't be counting a short walk to school as part of her exercise.

[HelloKlitty]

There's nothing wrong with a banana AND cereal ffs! Breakfast is the most important meal...

[TheLadyEvenstar]

DS only has a banana in the morning or scrambled egg. he hates cereal

[TheLadyEvenstar]

I think some children are just bigger than others. DS2 is very active always running around and never sitting still.

Yet he is the same size as my 7yr old nephew who has DS2's outgrown clothes and shoes. He is also lighter then DS2. There is 3.5yrs between them.

Both were low birth weights. DS2 was 5lb 15oz 5 weeks early. DN was 4lb 4oz 3 weeks early.

[Laquitar]

She doesn't eat much

Unless the dinner is big portion?


My dd (6) has banana with her porridge too and she is skinny. But apart from her weekly sports activities she constantly dances at home, or puts on her rollerskates and practices in the driveway .

Can you buy her rollerskates or bike and encourage that (i.e. family bike rides on weekends)?

[TimeWasting]

I'm glad I'm not the only one who thought the typical day wasn't a lot of food.

[worraliberty]

There's nothing wrong with a banana AND cereal ffs! Breakfast is the most important meal

No-one's saying it isn't important but the OP is looking at ways of cutting back and a banana with cereal or porridge is unnecessary.

[marriedinwhite]

My dd was a bit heavier than yours at 5. She remained heavy throughout primary school and by the time she was 11 she was overweight according to the charts. However, she was totally in proportion, never had a tummy or a chubby face, has broad shoulders and needs H width shoes. We all have big frames (DS is Rugby front row). DD also started her periods at 10 and a half and was very well developed. She hit 11 and started secondary school. She has a longer walk, heavier books, can chose what she eats at lunch time (at primary they had to clear their lunch boxes). She has always eaten sensibly with reasonable treats. She is now 13, 5'3" and weighs 8 stone 2lb. 11lb less than when she left primary. It has all happened naturally. She will never be a gamine sylph like little thing because that is simply not the family build but she has a lovely figure and isn't at all overweight in spite of having the family legs! Although every child should be encouraged to eat a sensible diet I think this weighing and measuring business and charting their weight and sending home letters has gone a bit too far and there was a brief period when I was worried dd was developing anorexic tendencies because she became very self conscious at about 11 and a half. So personally I think a littled caution needs to be couched. They are all different and have different frames and different development patterns and this sadly isn't taken into account by the school nursing service.

[mummymeister]

can i just sound a note of caution? most eating disorders start when children are very young usually sublimaly. it is really really important that you get professional advice asap rather than deciding yourself that she is overweight. my only worry is that food starts to become an issue for her and could be something she carries into adult life. are you both overweight? perhaps looking at her after school clubs/hobbies would be a positive place to start - increase these so she is out and about more. do you walk to/from school, could you. or could you go for a walk in the evening? The other reason for getting the professionals involved is that she may have an underlying health problem. Don't be too worried or focussed on this though. you are doing the right thing to sort it out early.

[Ismeyes]

No stress around. She is a bigger build in that she has size 12 and half feet and long legs. I do think it is portion sizes rather than what she eats and probably our habit of eating out.

[worraliberty]

That's something I've noticed when eating out.

Restaurants do tend to sell very big children's meals...far more than I'd give them at home. Then, I think as parents we tend to say "If you finish it all, you can have a dessert"...or at least I tend to say that.

My 12yr old is obviously old enough for adult meals, but I tend to encourage him to go for the child size and that way, he can just about manage to finish his dessert...sometimes with a little help from me

[TimeWasting]

How much porridge does she have? How big is the dinner portion?

It just doesn't seem that much food and cutting down food when that's not the issue could make the situation much worse.

[LeonardNimoy]

What does she do between finishing school and tea? Aren't they supposed to average an hour of proper running around exercise a day? DS is 6 and about 123cm about 20kg, but I think eats a lot more than what you have listed as a days food for your DD. However he either out on his bike or running round in garden for about 2 hours a day after school and tea. He also often walks the dog with me. I think they burn more off running around playing their own games than they do at organized activities.

[HelloKlitty]

worra even on a calorie controlled diet, a banana AND porrige is ok...if anything should be cut it's the cereal bar...thery're loaded with sugar. NOT the fruit.

[wfrances]

ismeyes if i rembember 5 yr old should have approx 1800 cals a day,make a diary and calorie count but you must weigh the food untill you can guage for yourself the portion size .

[magicmummy1]

I think she'd have to eat a heck of a lot at weekends for that to be a factor. I would definitely focus on getting her to be more active, and try not to worry too much about the food. As others have said, you don't want her to have ishoos about food when she is older.

[Laquitar]

I agree the banana is much better (and cheaper) than the cereal bar.

[magicmummy1]

OP, does she know when to stop eating when she's had enough? Or does she tend to finish what's on her plate even when she is full?

I tend to keep eating till I have finished but have noticed that dd just stops when she has had enough - even when eating chocolate cake!! I'm sure this is much healthier, and helps to regulate weight naturally.

Would she notice if you gradually reduced the portion size?

[worraliberty]

My point about the banana is not that it's not ok to eat...it's that it's unnecessary to eat along with the cereal or porridge.

The more a stomach takes in one sitting, the more it eventually expands to take more.

This is often why some people have far bigger appetites than others...they need more food inside to feel full because that's what they're used to.

[HelloKlitty]

No Worra....it's fine. My DD is scrawny but can happily eat cereal and fruit for breakfast...her stomach's not expanded so it's hard to fill up!

If the OPs cild can eat a larger but healthy breakfast then all good...her snackhowever needs to be something without sugar...so she can last longer without getting hungry....

OP...change her cereal bar for something like carrot sticks or an apple...strawberries are usually popuar. And drop the smoothie at lunch.

When eating out, make sure she's not having a starter....one child's meal and a little ice cream is fine once a week.... try to get her to choose healthy meals when out...spag bol.....baked potato..

[Callisto]

FGS don't start calorie counting for a 5 year old. That is utter madness. Just increase her exercise subtly. I agree that most eating disorders begin when children are this age - calorie counting and diets are an obvious trigger.

DD always has an adults portion when we eat out (about once a week) because childrens menus are generally shite. She generally manages most of it, but is never forced to clear her plate. I also eat like a horse and I'm a size 10/12. I am also very active. Exercise is the key here. The amount of energy you consume must be the same as the amount of energy you use or you get fat. Its a simple equation.