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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

Original poster

To think my ds isnt overweight due to diet

224 replies

Hannahgirl · 20/05/2021 16:32

2nd post within a day !!
Hi my son 5 has severe asd and hes literally on the go all the time he never sits still for a sec. He never eats breakfast lunch or dinner. His snacks tend to be fruit or a sandwich etc. Hes overweight by 2 stone.
He is a very tall boy. Aibu

OP posts:
bloodywhitecat · 20/05/2021 16:36

Impossible to say based on the info you have given, could you say a bit more about his typical daily intake? What does he drink?

SnarkyBag · 20/05/2021 16:36

Without knowing exactly what he eats in a day it’s hard to say. It’s easy for snacks to add up to a lot of calories even without main meals.
If he has one sandwich a day as a snack no that’s not the reason if he has 10 then maybe yes!

popcorndiva · 20/05/2021 16:36

Overweight for his height? Or average 5 year old? Have you calculated his bmi as that will take into account his height. Sandwiches I would see as a meal though not a snack

OnlyFoolsnMothers · 20/05/2021 16:41

Eats no meals at all?

Level75 · 20/05/2021 16:45

Have I understood correctly that your 5 year old is 2 stone overweight? No matter how tall that seems an awful lot. When my DD was 5 she was average height and weighed well under 3 stone.

Seafog · 20/05/2021 16:46

If the food isn't making him fat, what is?

Lockheart · 20/05/2021 16:48

He's not a plant, he can't gain weight from fresh air and sunshine.

Unless he's particularly muscle-bound, he will be overweight because he consumes more energy than he burns.

GreyhoundG1rl · 20/05/2021 16:49

2 stone?? If he's constantly moving there's very little else but diet that could cause this (and it's a dreadful amount for a five year old) he's literally more than double his optimum weight!
Have you sought medical advice to rule out metabolism issues?

Unanananana · 20/05/2021 16:50

So he doesn't eat meals, but is two stone overweight? How is that possible?

hamstersarse · 20/05/2021 16:50

He eats no meals at all and snacks all day....is that right?

GreyhoundG1rl · 20/05/2021 16:52

@hamstersarse

He eats no meals at all and snacks all day....is that right?
That'll be it, then... How on earth are you declaring sandwiches to be "not a meal" and therefore calorie free, op? 🙄
Iremembertheelderlykoreanlady · 20/05/2021 16:53

You say he doesn't each lunch but then you say a typical snack is a sandwich?

A sandwich is lunch (and I'm about as far from being a Competetive under eater as you can get!)

Original poster
Hannahgirl · 20/05/2021 16:53

I was told this at a medical appointment.
Its hard to say what snacks he has but today so far
Drink of milk
Chesse sandwich ( only a few bites were taken)
Two apple slices
He eats very little

OP posts:
OnTheBrink1 · 20/05/2021 16:54

By snacking all day he may be eating far more than healthy meals.
Be honest, which snacks is he eating? A sandwich and fruit all day won’t be causing him to be 2 stone overweight?

Original poster
Hannahgirl · 20/05/2021 16:54

Only drinks water with two cups of milk daily

OP posts:
VettiyaIruken · 20/05/2021 16:54

Unless he has a medical condition then yes, his diet is the reason he is 2 stone overweight (if he is according to height not age)

He is consuming more calories than he is burning. It's that simple.

Keep a record of every morsel he eats. Calculate the calories. I imagine you will find it's a higher total than you think.

WildWestWanda · 20/05/2021 16:54

What else could it be other than his diet?

Sensateria · 20/05/2021 16:54

If there’s no medical condition that you’re about to drip feed, then he’s overweight because of his poor diet.

WildWestWanda · 20/05/2021 16:55

@Sensateria

If there’s no medical condition that you’re about to drip feed, then he’s overweight because of his poor diet.
I’m expecting a big drip feed too
AnneLovesGilbert · 20/05/2021 16:57

What do you think has made him overweight?

EmeraldShamrock · 20/05/2021 16:57

It's hard to say my DS also ASD is overweight he was over 99% centile born and still is.
My DD is really slim they eat very similar amounts.
I'm slim their Dad is rugby built.

hamstersarse · 20/05/2021 16:57

@Hannahgirl

I was told this at a medical appointment. Its hard to say what snacks he has but today so far Drink of milk Chesse sandwich ( only a few bites were taken) Two apple slices He eats very little
So he’s had about 200 calories today..by 5pm?

This is all so strange

Smartiepants79 · 20/05/2021 16:57

So your saying he doesn’t eat really any meals but lives off snacks throughout the day?
A child that is 2 stone over weight has to be consuming a reasonable amount of calories.
I would suggest that the fact that all his food is taken in in (what seems like) small amounts that it is very Likely that you are loosing track of what he is actually eating and there are a lot more calories going in than you realise.
You say he doesn’t eat meals, but a sandwich is a meal. It’s what my children have for lunch.
You need to track his food intake more carefully and be honest with yourself about what he’s eating.
In nearly all cases, if you are overweight then your are eating more than you need.

Original poster
Hannahgirl · 20/05/2021 16:57

No drip feed. No medical issues

OP posts:
Original poster
Hannahgirl · 20/05/2021 16:58

A sanwich isnt a meal when its only a few bites ....

OP posts: