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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

Original poster

to throw this letter in the bin about DS being called overweight and bake a cake instead

157 replies

iknowmychildbest · 27/09/2014 12:59

I cannot believe I've been sent a letter calling my 7 y/o Ds overweight and a patronising letter on health advice. Our families have always been quite big, and his dad plays rugby every week and is large but as fit as a butchers dog

OP posts:
Original poster
iknowmychildbest · 27/09/2014 13:37

He is pretty active so I think its just muscle. I've calculated his bmi and it's 27, but also I've seen that bmi is very old school stuff and not suitable for most.

OP posts:
Sirzy · 27/09/2014 13:38

What does he eat in a typical day?

TheRealAmandaClarke · 27/09/2014 13:38

What sort of cake? Hmm

SpringBreaker · 27/09/2014 13:39

"I think its just muscle"

If you dont know that then how on earth can you expect to know if he is overweight or not.

WorraLiberty · 27/09/2014 13:40

I understand what you mean and I'm sure you look great.

However, today's 'normal' look is very different to what it was in the past.

But back to the subject of children, I sometimes think we forget just how much energy they would burn off if they were given the chance.

Sadly though not everyone has the time/facilities to see their kids get enough exercise.

WorraLiberty · 27/09/2014 13:41

Who weighed him and sent you the letter OP?

Smilesandpiles · 27/09/2014 13:42

Use this

He won't have a BMI of 27.. it's measured as a percentile for a child.

Smilesandpiles · 27/09/2014 13:44

A BMI of 27 for me is Overweight and I'm no doubt taller and heavier than your 7 year old.

meditrina · 27/09/2014 13:46

Is the 27 your own calculation or is it the one from the letter?

Does the letter say which version (eg BMI, BMI centile) they are using? And does it give reference range?

micah · 27/09/2014 13:46

What do you mean by "pretty active"?

Btw, I wouldn't call someone who plays rugby once a week fit. Once a week wouldn't increase fitness at all, it needs to be two or three times.

My dd, who is a competitive athlete, once asked my why she was the only one in year 4 who couldn't make a smiley face with the skin/fat on her tummy. Our views of a normal weight have become very skewed in recent years.

Lemons1571 · 27/09/2014 13:48

We had a letter for Ds1 years ago when he was in reception, saying he was obese. I phoned the number on the letter and she said he wasn't obese enough, as only a pound above overweight. She also said there's only 3 pounds between the categories normal and obese. So that was that.

Maybe you will encounter someone who can give solid advice...

Stresshead123 · 27/09/2014 13:52

This happens a lot due to the bmi test being used only. The whole of the girls swim club at my child's school who are all regional/ national finalists and one who is top 10 in England have been told they are overweight due to their bmi. obviously it's muscle & not one looks overweight at all.

MyChildDoesntNeedSleep · 27/09/2014 13:53

OP if you're going to start a fake thread, at least get your facts straight.

Children's BMI isn't reported as '27' it will be given as a centile.
Which BMI tool did you use?

starburst1979 · 27/09/2014 13:54

My ds (12) has always been classed as overweight. I take him along to the docs every time I get the letter and they just dismiss it as muscle mass. He plays football 3x a week and goes to boxing 3x a week. He does look very stocky but has a balanced diet and is never still.

It is worth a visit to your go who cab advise on diet or whether he is a "big strapping lad" (as my gp puts it)

BravePotato · 27/09/2014 13:56

this is so clearly not real.

awfulomission · 27/09/2014 13:59

Hmm, DS2's friend was sent one of those letters. He's 5 and wears clothes for a 10-11yo.

As far as I know, the guidelines were simply to eat more healthily and to be a LOT more active. His DM takes him swimming twice a week after school and he's joined a children's athletic club. He's much calmer now and while the extra weight has not come off, I'm sure it will start to if she keeps things up.

I understand why you feel hurt by this and by no means should he stop eating your home made cake but I'd pay this more attention than chucking it in the bin.

More sport for him I'd say, regardless of whether it's muscle that's weighing in heavy or not.

gordyslovesheep · 27/09/2014 13:59

blimey the teens are dull today Grin try harder children try harder

inabranstonpickle · 27/09/2014 13:59

Worra Shock

Size 14 and 5 foot huge? Honestly? Because I weigh 10 stone 10lbs and I am 5'2 so two inches above your example but I wear a size 14 usually ... I am NOT huge Shock

I really am pretty taken aback by that.

WorraLiberty · 27/09/2014 14:00

If you had to calculate his bmi yourself, what the fuck was the point of this mysterious letter?

Have a full fat Biscuit and think about it.

WorraLiberty · 27/09/2014 14:02

I said if they were 5ft and a size 14, they were 'quite likely' huge.

Some people are. We all carry weight differently.

inabranstonpickle · 27/09/2014 14:05

Huge? Or a bit chubby?

Believe me I am NOT a huge fan of excuses, of side stepping or avoidance where weight is concerned. But I do very much take exception to exaggerations too.

WorraLiberty · 27/09/2014 14:07

I'm not going to get into conversation about your personal weight because it's nothing to do with me.

I'm 5ft 3" and if I were a size 14, I personally would be huge.

But as I said, we all carry weight differently.

inabranstonpickle · 27/09/2014 14:08

Worra, you would not be huge. You would be overweight, you would be bigger than you liked, you might FEEL huge.

You wouldn't be.

Sirzy · 27/09/2014 14:09

I am five foot and when I was in a 14 I was obese. I am in a 12 now and still classed as overweight.

(Although clothes sizes aren't the best reference point as my wardrobe contains sizes from 8-16 all of which fit dependant on shop/cut)

AnyFucker · 27/09/2014 14:10

I think op is after buns (throwing of) rather than cake Smile