Active discussions

Meet the Other Phone. A phone that grows with your child.

Meet the Other Phone.
A phone that grows with your child.

Buy now

Please or to access all these features

Talk
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:
AnneLovesGilbert · 20/05/2021 16:59

So what do you think is responsible?

Was the medical appointment about his weight?

If you’re sure he barely eats and doesn’t sit down and is two stone overweight for his height then I’d be quite concerned and asking your doctor for some answers.

Not sure what you’re looking for from your post?

WildWestWanda · 20/05/2021 17:00

You’re in some sort of denial. If your ds is 2 stone overweight he is getting the calories from somewhere

hamstersarse · 20/05/2021 17:04

What is your weight OP?

UtterlyUnimaginativeUsername · 20/05/2021 17:04

Are you going by just his weight for his age, or are you taking his height into account?

Newnamefor2021 · 20/05/2021 17:04

Sorry op, I think our diet. I think of hers snacking here and there it will be less obvious how much he is getting

VettiyaIruken · 20/05/2021 17:05

Does he help himself to snacks?
It's just that you said "it's hard to say what snacks he has"
But it shouldn't be because you need to be in control of that. Record every snack he has. I really think that the problem is you aren't actually taking in the reality of what he's eating day in day out.

OwlBeThere · 20/05/2021 17:05

You’re not giving anyone much to go on OP. It could be a metabolic issue. Or it could be the snacks are adding up, you need to keep a strict food diary for a few weeks.

ClarasZoo · 20/05/2021 17:05

It’s hard when you are overweight or when your child is. I am fat myself. However, there must be more calories in than out unless he is generating energy in some way in which case maybe it’s a new renewable energy source. I mean this kindly- it’s not possible is it?

AMillionMilesAway · 20/05/2021 17:06

"Very tall" may mean he is fine.
If you are concerned, take him to a professional.
None of us on here can tell you if your son is overweight, or, if he is, whats causing it.

FlibbertyGiblets · 20/05/2021 17:07

Hannah hello there.
Has his paedriatrician raised concerns about your boy's weight? Or are you concerned?

I am reluctant to say restrict his food as he appears to have already self restricted (this is not uncommon)
Ask GP or paed for a referral to a SN dietitian. I am mindful that severe asd and food intake can appear to be quite peculiar to onlookers/outsiders.

1Morewineplease · 20/05/2021 17:10

I second getting a referral to a paediatrician.
This doesn't sound right.

Original poster
Hannahgirl · 20/05/2021 17:10

Myself and husband and other children are normal weight. Hes unable to help himself to food due to his asd. The doctor has referred him for bloods and to the hospital. I have been asked to keep a food diary

OP posts:
GreyhoundG1rl · 20/05/2021 17:11

Its hard to say what snacks he has
But you're the one feeding him Confused. You can't just let him graze indiscriminately and then be amazed that
1). He won't eat meals, and
2). His size is increasing at a horrendous rate.
What did the doctor advise?

DreamingNow · 20/05/2021 17:11

How tall is he?

I woud keep a record of what he eats. (Dont tell him!).
it might eb that actually he is eating too much. Or it might be that he is the wrong type of food.
It might be a lot of other issues too.

Fishandhips · 20/05/2021 17:12

If that's genuinely what he eats and he is 2 stone overweight at 5 years old, it's good they are doing some investigation into it as there must be something else going on.

PattyPan · 20/05/2021 17:12

A sandwich is definitely a meal rather than a snack Confused plus even if something is just a few bites it can still have a lot of calories - cheese is very high in calories so if you use a lot of filling, butter etc he could easily be over-eating. Make sure when you keep the food diary you make an accurate note of the portion sizes.

DreamingNow · 20/05/2021 17:13

I would calculate his BMI and see where he fits.

BogRollBOGOF · 20/05/2021 17:17

@Hannahgirl

Myself and husband and other children are normal weight. Hes unable to help himself to food due to his asd. The doctor has referred him for bloods and to the hospital. I have been asked to keep a food diary
The food diary is only as good as the information tbat you put into it and does need to be accurate. The bite of sandwich here and bite of that there all need to be added in as if he is constantly grazing it will all add up. I'm glad that it's being investigated
CPsRus · 20/05/2021 17:20

Has his thyroid been checked?

Lockheart · 20/05/2021 17:21

Humans (and everything in fact), can't defy the laws of physics. We can't make mass - whether that's muscle, fat, bone growth etc - out of nothing, we have to take in the energy to do this. The way humans take in energy is through food and drink.

It's good you're seeing the doctor and keeping food diaries. Make sure to be meticulous with the food diary and record every little thing.

Is there time when he is out of your care (e.g. at school) when he may be eating?

You also say he is unable to help himself to food due to his ASD - is that a definite or is it something you are assuming? (I'm not saying he can or can't either way, I'm just trying to guage whether it may be a possibility - however small - that he can help himself to food).

idontlikealdi · 20/05/2021 17:22

If you're feeding him the snacks surely you know what they are?

JillsFlapjacks · 20/05/2021 17:22

If he is grazing all day I can see why it would be difficult to estimate what his calorie intake would be. He's obviously taking in more than it seems.

EmeraldShamrock · 20/05/2021 17:25

It may be his metabolism too. As mentioned my DS is overweight ASD and very active far more active than his slim sister.
He has a crap limited diet. I reduced one small piece each meal and he lost a bit of weight but was hungry.

4PawsGood · 20/05/2021 17:26

Have you plotted his height against his weight? Then you can see if his weight is due to his height.

He should be on roughly the same centile for both.

Or give us his height and weight and I can do it for you Smile

MissLucyEyelesbarrow · 20/05/2021 17:26

He is overweight. The HCPs are working with you to try to understand why - that's why they have suggested a food diary. I"m not sure what your AIBU is, as it doesn't sound as if anyone is jumping to conclusions - they are just trying to understand what's going on.