Dd is gaining weight rapidly and I don’t know why

[megabrilliant]

I weighed my dd today she is 10 and weighs 7 stone 2 at 4 foot 8 which puts her at 96 centile.
I weighed myself at the same time and I was 7 stone 1 which at 5’2 makes me marginally underweight but only by a couple of lb.
My 8 year old was only 4 stone something and smack bang in the healthy range.
I just don’t understand and I know people must think I feed her junk but I give them both the same breakfast, same packed lunch and cook them the same dinner and so if anything the youngest eats more for her age as she eats the same size meals.
I walk them to and from school each day which is about 15 minutes each way so that’s half an hour exercise and they both do activities out of school plus we go swimming and are quite an active family generally.
No sweet drinks or junk food.

An average day will look like this.

Breakfas
2 pieces of toast and spread or bowl of porridge or very occasionally a croissant or hot cross bun for a change.

Packed lunch
Sandwich or wrap with ham or cheese.
yogurt
piece of fruit
cereal bar for snack at break and water.

Dinner
Meat, all fresh like chicken breast or pork chops, veg, potato or rice or pasta, occasionally beans but rarely.

If they are hungry later they have fruit or cheese or cracker type biscuits but other than that I can’t see how she is ballooning in weight.
I used to give her size 6 clothes I didn’t wear anymore because she fitted in them and now she doesn’t and I’m buying primary school uniform in age 15 online and she’s in teen clothes, I bought a coat in age 15 and she’s struggling to do the zip up.
Her teeth are good, she isn’t a good sleeper but is there anything else I can do for her or is she just a bit bigger but can that still be healthy, I think people think it’s neglect and I’m giving her the wrong food but we all eat the same.

This is what I was worried about, if something like this could be causing it.

my bet would be she is eating other people's lunches. my (overweight) sister used to eat about 3 to 4 lunches a day, all the kids would give her whatever they didn't want to eat and she would scoff the lot. she ate everything. but from my mums point of view she only had 3 healthy meals a day - she didn't see all the sausages, sandwiches, crisps etc my sister ate at school. The canteen were terrible - at the end of service they would give away food to anyone who wanted it (even though sister was packed lunch).

I'd ask her if anyone gives her food at school.

I think it’s totally normal at this age hence the term ‘puppy fat.’ She will be entering the first stages of puberty, weight gain is very common. She’s likely due a growth spurt, just carry on doing what you’re doing, don’t limit her food intake.

Thank you

Op answered "no absolutely not" in response to being asked whether her 10 year old daughter was pregnant.

DD2 did this y5 age 9 - everyone commented depsite my efforts and she got upset - she got very solid on her trunk.

She then after a few months of worry shot up a entire foot and had remain on skinny side ever since.

Everyone then said puberty and periods starting but she was same as DD1 there at 12. It was when she put on most of her height only few inches since then.

If you are not over feeding and she active likely it's a good chance it's adult height turning up.

Yes, and my point is you don’t know how much she eats. There’s a knowledge gap somewhere - whether that’s snacks from friends at school, snacking at home when she’s out of your sight, or secretly eating in her bedroom - she is consuming more than she is burning off and therefore gaining weight.

i had a school friend who polished off everyone else’s leftovers from packed lunch… any chance your dd is doing that?

Definitely agree with the others, she is going out before she goes up, and is likely starting puberty if she hasn’t already started. Try not to mention it and carry on talking about how healthy she is rather than how much she weighs. She would have noticed it too so don’t talk about it in front of her.

If you’re that worried then see the GP. I would be very careful not to go on about it in front of her, comparing her to your ‘slightly underweight’ self and ‘normal’ other child. I’m sure you wouldn’t dream of doing that though.

People are sooooo tetchy about this stuff on here. I would be worried too OP. I have a tall-for-her-age 9 year old (puberty has started) and I would worry if she started to put a lot of weight on. Her diet is a 8/10 compared to best practice and she is active for at least a couple of hours most days. Sounds a lot like your DD and I would worry if there was a sudden significant change give the context. I wouldnt necessarily rush to do anything and I would be extremely sensitive to her not knowing I was worried but I would be keeping a close eye on things and not restricting food. Her diet sounds great. Totally valid to be concerned about this - how you act on it is where the problem could come.

She’s probably just started puberty and stacked on a lot of fat in the usual areas but hasn’t grown upwards yet. Give it another couple of years but if it’s still going in the same direction then GP.

also ask if she’s eating food from anywhere else eg junk from friends in the playground

Request a school nurse assessment or make an appointment to see the GP. There could be a medical issue. Don’t make a big deal to your dd but see a professional to set your mind at rest if nothing else.

You are right to mention sleep. Sleep is really important. What’s happening there? Is there anything you can change to help her sleep better?

Becuase people oin MN tell you she's fine? I honestly think if th eweight gain is noticeable and excedssive and around her tummy, you should see a doctor.

Is there a possibility she could be sneaking food at home when you’re not looking. I had a friend at school whose mum was obsessed with her weight (her mum and sister were slim and my friend wasn’t) and her mum restricted her diet so much that my friend used to raid the cupboards at night as she was so hungry.

That’s really not a good idea. My mother was like you and I was never really that big.

Just back off

Every one of my slim children gained some weight from around ten, then when they went through puberty they shot up and lost it all.

Edited to say, my ten year old niece is actually in that stage now and has gained puppy fat. I wouldn't be concerned if she's eating healthy and exercising.

@megabrilliant don't ask on here. Take her to see a doctor.

She shouldn't be gaining lots of weight if she is eating the sensible diet you suggested.

So either she is getting food from elsewhere or she has perhaps a medical issue or perhaps its the start of a huge growth spurt? Best to get her checked over.

Honestly at 10 I wouldn’t worry - like others have said she will likely shoot up soon. My Dd was always a little chunkier than her sister was and bigger than a lot of her friends at 10, then by 12 was 5’7 and a total beanpole. She’s now 17 and a super healthy slim (& very tall) and very active girl.
keep doing what you’re doing, don’t make a big deal out of it and all will be well I’m sure

You need to make a GP appointment if you’re genuinely concerned from a health POV but stop weighing her and comparing her to yourself. I am 5”6 and overweight, my weight has fluctuated massively since I was a child - typical yo-yo but I’ve always struggled. My mum was beautifully slim which a flat stomach. My own daughter is now 7 and she is almost as tall as me already and stick thin but she never stops eating. She’s like her dad and I was like mine.

My dad and brother would comment on my weight when I was a child and I ended up developing an eating disorder I still can’t escape from at 38. I truly believe their comments is where it stemmed from and I’ve lived a life like this as a result. I’ll never do the same to my child, especially as she hits puberty, unless I was genuinely concerned for her health.

It could be hormones tbf. My teen did put weight on around the age of 10/11 but periods didn’t come until 12. Now she is taller than me 🤣🤣 But it’s always worth asking a medical professional if its a worry 😊

I really wouldn’t take her to see a doctor. She’s eating healthily and going into her teenage years feeling fat to the extent her mother dragged her to the doctor is likely to give her an ED.

No of course not, I would never say anything about it, I was just concerned if there was likely any underlying cause.

Mine did the same ..now size 10s