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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

How to lower my child’s BMI?

260 replies

Poolofjoy · 21/09/2018 14:52

She is currently on the 99th percentile. About 4 months ago, we cut out takeaways. We had a dominoes every week, sometimes a curry too. Sometimes a McDonald’s as well. Food was pretty processed and crap. Now I cook homemade, healthy meals. No takeaways. I also enrolled her on two after school activities which are great exercise. This is the new lifestyle now, that we are fully sticking to. But, her weight does not look like it’s gone down at all.. will it gradually? I weighed/measured her in July ( under the guise of testing the machine at the leisure centre before I had a go, as I don’t want to make her self conscious ) should I weigh her again to check? I just don’t want her to worry that I’m weighing her again. Should I make more changes?

OP posts:
Carrrotsandcauliflower · 23/09/2018 22:42

Sorry wholmeal roll not room

pasanda · 23/09/2018 23:30

.

Yura · 24/09/2018 05:36

i've split my slim oldest son activities up somewhere earlier in thid thread - its around 3 hours per day. including PE, and breaktime, but his school is sport focussed, so PE intense (they bring their PE kit home after PE, and it desperately needs a wash every time). breaktime is football time for him. the rest is walking, biking, scootering, some organized stuff (judo and twice swimming), ball games and sunday kids parkrun (parkrun is free and great for adults too)

Notsohorriblehistory · 24/09/2018 06:16

Does she enjoy TV/computer games?
If so, before dinner let her have half hour TV/computer on condition that whilst she is enjoying this time she has a big bowl of veg/salad

I have done this with mine since they were babies in a high chair.

Bit of TV whilst in prepping dinner. They get a large bowl of cut up carrot/ cucumber / sometimes steamed veg / corn on the cob.

They get at least three veg portions in one sitting. And then means smaller portion of main course.

Win win

Notsohorriblehistory · 24/09/2018 06:18

Re activities - you’re going to get such a range of answers. Just as you would from adults.

We are a very very sporty family. So it’s every day. And they don’t walk anywhere. They run. Everywhere. I auggesta walk to town. They in. I suggest a walk to shops to pick up milk. They run. It’s just part of the fabric of their being to move and move fast. And I’m the same (having my coffee and about to head out for a 8k run!)

Yura · 24/09/2018 08:19

@Notsohorriblehistory i agree when it comes to the range of answers. our family is the same. i just feel itsxworth pointing out the amount of activities some children do as we quite regularly get comments such as " you are so lucky you and the kids stay slim given how much you eat". its not magic - we move a lot and eat healthy food in appropriate portions (pudding is not a daily occurrence , no cream based sauces, hardly anything deep fried!). if you move a lot, you have to eat more - but still look for nutritional value.

ForTheLoveOfDoughnuts · 25/09/2018 09:14

@Poolofjoy if she maintains her weight and remains at 5ft as an adult she'll have a health bmi.
I really wouldn't be too worried. She's a child. She's probably going to grow some more in height. And her body will change through puberty. Obviously promoting a healthy diet is brilliant. But I wouldn't be expecting her to lose weight!

How to lower my child’s BMI?
How to lower my child’s BMI?
Poolofjoy · 25/09/2018 09:31

Thank you, I’d not seen how her weight/height would equate as an adult. So that’s reassuring. Yesterday we went for a walk for an hour after school and tonight she’s got climbing. For yesterday’s breakfast she had egg/no added sugar baked beans on a slice of wholemeal bread and this morning she had 30g ready break with chopped banana for breakfast.. does that sound about right? A small glass of apple juice both mornings too. Last night we ate chicken, veg and rice with a small pot of no added sugar Hartleys jelly for afters. Tonight we’ve got prawn and veg risotto then plain yoghurt and fruit.

OP posts:
whosafraidofabigduckfart · 25/09/2018 10:20

This reply has been deleted

Message withdrawn at poster's request.

Miladymilord · 25/09/2018 10:23

"Does she enjoy TV/computer games?
If so, before dinner let her have half hour TV/computer on condition that whilst she is enjoying this time she has a big bowl of veg/salad

I have done this with mine since they were babies in a high chair.

Bit of TV whilst in prepping dinner. They get a large bowl of cut up carrot/ cucumber / sometimes steamed veg / corn on the cob.

They get at least three veg portions in one sitting. And then means smaller portion of main course.

Win win"

yes I've always done this, now they do it for themselves!

pool you sound amazing btw. make sure she's drinking water if she can bear to.

VeryBerrySeptember · 25/09/2018 11:03

It all sounds fine. (Like good work fine not ok fine!)

As a general rule we don't drink fruit juice. We might have it on rare weekends. Eating the whole fruit is miles better than juice at satisfying hunger. With my kid I'd offer a satsuma on a morning where there was no banana. ( Disclaimer: Mine won't eat any fruit on a weekday morning, well one will have a slice of my apple!)

Oh and you've inspired me to go out walking after school with mine this pm. I ducked out last night after a busy weekend.

Well done so far, good luck and think of the long game.

goose1964 · 25/09/2018 11:08

DD put on weight around that age, by the time she was 13 she had grown a few inches and was back to her old skinny self. The best thing you can do with her is to prtion watch and if she says she's hungry ask her to wait 20 minutes, the time it takes the body to register it's been fed ,and if she's still hungry offer fruit or plain yoghurt

littlewhitething · 25/09/2018 12:01

My children were brought up in France and had school dinners every day. A typical meal would be; first course, grated carrot with vinaigrette, second a small helping of meat with an even smaller portion of potatoes /rice/grains, third course a piece of cheese, fourth course a yoghurt or piece of fruit. When they got home about 4. 30, they would have a glass of milk and a piece of bread with jam/nutella/marmite. Then at 7 we'd have dinner _ usually a filling soup or vegetable stir-fry cooked with no oil but lemon juice and herbs etc. No separate cards. Then a plain fromage frais and fruit or yoghurt (NEVER flavoured). Once a week they had sweets, not many, or even a coke when we walked to the market. I'm convinced that it was having 3rd/4 courses, departed by conversation that kept them slim. Could you not Tey the same by reversing¦g lunch and dinner?

littlewhitething · 25/09/2018 12:04

Sorry, I meant carbohydrates not cards! For example a light soup and a helping of lean meat and veg or a filling soup and a decent dessert?

Whooptydoo1 · 25/09/2018 12:11

I don’t really have any particularly helpful advice but just wanted to say you’ve recognised a problem and have been brave enough to tackle it head on, whilst trying to consider your daughters mental health and well-being as well as her physical, u should be proud, you sound like a really lovely mum, keep it up, as she grows her bmi should level out, u can always seek the help of health care professionals if u don’t see changes soon

geekone · 25/09/2018 12:44

@ForTheLoveOfDoughnuts just what I was going to post

Delatron · 25/09/2018 14:32

Sounds like you are doing brilliantly. Eggs and beans for breakfast are such a good choice. Lots of protein to fill her up.
Agree, no apple juice though. Too much sugar. Ready Brek good too. Just water or milk for drinks.

Poolofjoy · 28/09/2018 12:40

Well ready brek with fruit and a glass of water is her new normal breakfast! She’s at an all day netball tournament today and climbing tonight so a nice active day. I’ve got a healthy curry (with lots of veg) bubbling away in the slow cooker for later too. So all ticking away rather nicely. After checking on school dinners, it seems the chips and cookie is not an every day occurance. She had a chicken wrap yesterday and pasta the day before that. With fruit both times. Feeling positive!

OP posts:
Notsohorriblehistory · 28/09/2018 13:02

I like this thread

Helpful comments and an OP who didn’t get deeenaive but actually took on board comments. Good on you OP!

Op re activity, set a good example. Leave the car when you can; always park further away from the shops etc. Little things.

Notsohorriblehistory · 28/09/2018 13:03

defensive

Notsohorriblehistory · 28/09/2018 13:06

@Miladymilord

Mine too! They actually will go tk the fridge and get out a carrot or cucumber slices etc.
Their diet and approach to food is just about the one area of parenting that I feel I have nailed!

NobodyToVoteForNow · 28/09/2018 13:10

Muscle is denser than fat, so with all the added excercise she may be replacing any fat shes losing with muscle and so not losing weight.

curlyLJ · 28/09/2018 13:22

Hi, I've read bits and pieces from your thread and it seems like you are doing a lot of the right things and you need to carry on with this. Well done for all the hard work you've put in!

I agree that portion sizes and upping activity will help, but you also want to ensure she is satisfied after each meal or she will look for snacks that may be unhealthy.

Protein, veg and good fats are your friends here. Sugar and refined carbs are not! and whilst I don't think you need to get into calorie counting/weighing out portions continuously, looking at the overall days intake will help.

Be careful with things like Ready Brek as it's highly processed. Porridge oats (rolled or whole) are s better option. Most yoghurts have a huge amount of sugar in too, so watch that. A good Greek yoghurt, even if full fat, would be better.
Switch to brown rice, brown bread, brown pasta if you haven't already done so.

Aim for 50% of plates to be veg. There are lots of interesting recipes on the internet to make this a bit less boring. Too much fruit (because of the sugar) isn't a good idea. Also fruit juices and smoothies, although they look healthy, should be avoided.
Yes to drinking lots of water too!

If you keep doing all this and continuing with a lot of activity her metabolism will go up and she will lose weight. Slow loss is good loss!

Poolofjoy · 28/09/2018 14:44

Not switched to brown rice/ pasta yet. But we have switched over to wholemeal bread Smile thank you for the kind comments pp’s!

OP posts:
curlyLJ · 28/09/2018 15:04

Making cauliflower 'rice' is also a good alternative and my kids barely notice the difference with a curry. Blitz up a cauliflower in a mini chopper/food processor until it resembles rice/couscous, then cover and microwave for about 5-6 mins depending how much you've got. Add salt and oepper, afterwards. You can also add finely chopped coriander if you like it. It's yummy I swear!