To be horrified the NHS classes 5yo DD as overweight?

[mommathatwearspink]

DD (5) had her school night and weight check at school earlier in the week. Received a letter today saying that she is on the 94th percentile and classes as overweight for her age and height.

Im horrified! She doesn’t look overweight, does gymnastics and swimming each week, doesn’t over eat, treats are limited and I cook healthy meals from scratch most days. What the hell am I doing wrong???

What does 'chunky' mean if not fat?

I mean considering kids should be slim with visible ribs, collar bones and hip bones?

Parents can opt out of the health review. If they don't, and the child is uncomfortable, then the child can opt out at the assessment. This is a public service - for parents who may not be keeping records on their children's growth - up and down - or side to side. If you haven't opted out, you will get the information that is gathered at the health review session. It continues on from the 'Red Book' - which shows the centile charts for children/young adults.
Nobody ever opted out during the Red Book appointments as they were eager to plot their children's progress - this is a continuation of that. This information is sent only to parents, it is added to the child's health record but it is not published to the child's school or anywhere where it can be accessed other than by health care professionals.

Its bad advice to say “you know your own child best” and “if you don’t think they’re overweight ignore the letter”. Childhood obesity is a huge issue and is getting worse, parents are the worst people to judge the weight of their kids - there’s a massive bias.

If medical professionals are saying there’s a problem then for the sake of your child listen to them - it’s easier to fix the eating and physical activity of a six year old than it is to fix the mental health issues when they’re a teenager and can’t get a boyfriend/girlfriend and are bullied for being a fatso.

Also don’t overestimate the exercise they do - nationally only 20% of kids are getting the 60 mins of activity each day. One of the earlier posts said “my 5yo swims and plays rugby”. No they don’t. A weekly stage 2 swimming lesson and Rugbytots on a Saturday does not give that much exercise.

Brocks1981 My friends 11 year old was anorexic and recieveing hospizal treatment when they told her she was overweight
Sorry! I didn't see previous page when I wrote but seeing that comment has made me realise this is some kind of ridiculous scheme!

Still think, concerning any parent made to worry by this - it wouldn't do any harm to see your Doctor just to put your mind at rest.

It would be a good thing if enough parents could show how badly wrong the data is and how dangerously wrong as in the case above and report it to the Govt department sending out the letters. Or the press. Or both.

By the BMI calculator he is over weight he is very physically active 5hrs a week in clubs plus hours of walking and running round the park a week. He has no gut on him, i can see his spine and ribs. He has muscular legs and bottom, so NO by no means am I going to "do" anything about it, if that makes me weird then I'll gladly take the label.

I know it not usuful now but you can opt out of these programs. There will be another round of them in year 6.

They often get the height wrong, or weigh with shoes on. Measure and weigh your dd at home with just pants on. If she is 94th for weight and 50th for height then see your GP and check muscle vs fat. You can find the percentiles in your red book.

My son (12) is 'chunky'. He is fat.

I agree that we have completely lost the ability to see what is normal. My DD looks painfully thin to me - she's all bones and angles - but is right in the middle of her healthy weight range. I can't imagine what she would look like on the 5th centile.
And I'm obese so obviously have just as much trouble recognising a healthy weight in myself.

polly we NEVER weigh with shoes on! Or coats etc

Chunky = overweight

@arethereanyleftatall @ToffeePennie

I was 6 and half stone at age 11. I am tallish now 5ft 9, but I remember this as I read Kylie Minogue was the same weight! I wasn't particularly active, but I have very muscly thighs, I think from horse riding. I did have a little chub, but I think as I went in secondary school was walking and swimming more meant I grew into it and have never been overweight and now I'm old-ish.

My DS is 3 and chunky, you can't see his ribs. Hmmmm but he has remained on the 91st centile for height. I think like me, he could go either way and it's about keeping them the right side of it and not being in denial.

I spoke to the teacher who said ignore it, that DD was clearly not overweight and when looking at the weight expectations for children two years above her (her height) she was a perfectly normal weight for her height!
Teachers are not qualified to make that judgement. you heard what you wanted to hear. Get a professional opinion.

I’d objectively assess whether or not you think she has an issue with her weight or not. If not, totally disregard. Above all don’t pass to your daughter - giving her a complex about body image age 5 is seriously bad news.

We sell school uniform from the school office. I am a 50 year old woman and I am heavier than I would like to be. I wanted a “school uniform” fleece jacket .... I have bought a child size fleece (11-12 yrs) and it is TOO BIG! My DS is 16 and six foot tall... this fleece is MASSIVE on him but we are selling them to children in our PRIMARY school (children under 11). Manufacturers have increased their sizing to accommodate the chunkier children which is another reason that parents think their hefty children are “fine”.

Christ, this thread is depressing.

We've got an obesity and diabetes epidemic, more kids are leaving primary school obese and overweight than ever, 60+% of adults are obese or overweight, yet parents come along here in denial about their own kids' weight.

Are those of you who are in denial and say your child is 'chunky' or 'has a big bum' ( as if that alone will affect a BMI to the extent it's flagged up as overweight), overweight too?

All of this 'oh my child is active' is usually complete bollocks.
Children are in school from 9-3, home by 4-ish, have homework to do. Then they watch TV or do stuff online.

I feel so sorry for these kids whose parents are in denial.

My 4.5yo is between 75th and 91st centile for both weight and height. Presumably that means she’s in proportion rather than overweight? She’s always starving but we are quite careful with portion sizes and treats and she’s happy to munch on an apple or carrot if she wants a snack.

I worry a lot about this.

My DS is 3 and chunky, you can't see his ribs.

So your child is fat.

Go online and google images of children in the 1950s- on the beach, playing outside. That is what normal and healthy looks like. Skinny as rakes, ribs on show, not an ounce of belly fat.

Toffeepennie, tbf my daughter is 11 and doesn’t weight 5stn yet although she is only 4ft 10 and tbh I only weighed 51/2 stn at 14 and 5ft 2

I think the only time you can safely say to ignore is if there's an obvious mistake - a friend got one that knocked 15cm off her DS's height so obviously the resulting calculation was way out.

Kids are getting bigger. I don't think being slightly overweight at primary age is always a massive issue, but it's worth keeping an eye on subtly and seeing if you can find ways to increase activity or having a check on portion sizes.

There is a girl at my school, in year 6. She was 'chunky' but no fat rolls etc. School nurse flagged it up and mum made changes(swapped jam sandwiches for ham, crisps for fruit etc and did more activity). Within 9 months this girl has changed shape. Some people just don't realise that what they are feeding their chn is bad.I find it hard to believe with all the tv focussed ob healthy diets but there you go.

I know it not usuful now but you can opt out of these programs. There will be another round of them in year 6.

And sadly even more children will be obese in year 6 than in Reception.

Mostly due to parents 'binning the letter'.

@hobby yeah. The bit that's supposed to support your lumbar area sticks painfully into the base of my spine, while my lumbar area just floats in the bit that curves backwards for the bit above your lumbar area. It's like they're all designed for midgets.

That's been true whatever weight I was.

I genuinely don't see what that has to do with my weight?

The BMI ranking they use for children is completely different for what they use for adults.

This means for her height and weight 93 children in every 100 hundred are smaller than her. If the figure matches her height that’s irrelevant as it’s her BMI they are looking at, not her weight. Her height has already been taken into account.

That said it’s a snapshot. You have two options bin the letter and ignore it or see it for what it is. It’s a message that there might be a problem developing. The evidence is clear. Children with a high BMI are more likely to develop obesity related conditions in adulthood. Take it on board or ignore it.

In terms of what you are doing wrong. Nothing necessarily. The most common causes of obesity in children are large portions, too many treats, encouraging overeating “you can have pudding if you eat all your dinner”, creating poor relationships with food - using it as a reward. And of course lack of exercise. Use of cars. Televisions. iPads etc etc. Activities during the week aren’t enough. It’s overall activity.