To worry about child's weight

[Comfortable8520]

Took my 4-years old height and weight today and the BMI came up like this.

Is it weird to worry about it? DH says it is.

My eldest was about there at that age. She’s now 5’8”, willowy, and gorgeous. If they’re eating healthily I wouldn’t worry. There’s a whole range of normal.

It's not weird to worry if your child is healthy. But based on that, they clearly are. Just make sure they eat good food and run around!

My 4 year old is just the same. She eats a good varied diet, lots of fruit and veg, has occasional treats but nothing excessive. Pretty active, does a few sports. I think she just naturally sits at the top end of healthy (as do I). I'm just monitoring it but really even if it went up a bit I don't think I could do much to change it!

They're in the normal range...so no I wouldn't worry.

This sounds a bit like us. A very active kid but also has quite a healthy appetite.

Did you ever raise it with a GP? I am thinking of I need to get some form of an advice or monitor it, but feel they'll probably brush it off.

It's a healthy weight for height.
BUT, I'd keep an eye on it. If they have just had a growth spurt, and so are about to stay the same height, and put on weight, it could tip you into an area where action would be a good idea.
If they are just about to have a growth spurt, they will soon drop down the centiles.

When i was involved in primary school they weighed and measured the kids in reception and again in year 6. I don't know if they do it now. The parents of the kids outside of the normal range had information given to them, which consisted of a few weeks of classes run by a nurse on healthy eating and exercise.

This link has all the information, but OP your child is in the healthy range.
https://www.nhs.uk/healthier-families/

By all means monitor their bmi, but don't worry about it. Kids put on weight and then have a growth spurt. Some kids will always be on the upper end of the range, that's still healthy. It doesn't need a GP appointment unless you have additional concerns

I've noticed my 7 year old had got a bit of a tummy since Xmas, worked out his bmi yesterday and it was 89th centil. So yes I'm definitely trying to cut back on the snacks and portion sizes a bit, without him noticing! He definitely has a good appetite though

This is the children's weight section of the website, sorry the other was more general family health.

www.nhs.uk/healthier-families/childrens-weight/

Are you and your husband similar?

Thank you

Nope, I am on the lower end and have always been quite skinny. DH was quite skinny when he was a kid but put on some weight after 35.

No I've never raised it and actually she was seen by paediatrics, for something unrelated but they did weigh and measure and never mentioned it so I doubt the GP would have anything to say apart from directing you towards general healthy eating and lifestyle advice which is readily available online. I've monitored for around a year and have found that she more or less tracks this BMI centile so I think it's just how she is. That would be my advice to you really, just monitor every couple of months to reassure yourself that she's staying around the same centile rather than creeping up over time. I think it would be very risky on terms of mental health and potential future eating disorders to make a big thing of it at this stage.

It’s not weird to worry about it. We all want the best for our kids. Not popular to say but genuinely, one of my life goals is to succeed in raising slender kids (yes I’m lifelong fat - don’t want them to struggle like I have).
He’s still in the healthy range, and will probably grow taller and even out, they do that!

Hi OP,

I have a 3 year old and a 4 year old. They are both 90th centile for height. The 4 year old is like your dd, top end of normal
for weight too. She has been like this since she was born and because she’s so tall she doesn’t look in any way like she has excess weight on her. Very active with a healthy balanced diet and good appetite. My 3 year old is tall but skinny, around 40th centile
for weight and I feel he doesn’t eat enough and his trousers fall down on him. I worry when he’s sick and loses his appetite and I don’t with his sister. I really wouldn’t worry

My dd was there at 4.

Shes 6ft now and a size 10.

My DD5 was at a 75 bmi just before Christmas. We took a photograph over Christmas compared to a few of her friends and she looked really chubby.

We upped healthy eating, stopped sweets/treats and stepped up with walking more to school.

She's grown 3cm since Christmas Eve and is now 35bmi.

I would say close to 90% BMI, your child will be pretty close to being overweight.