9yo DD putting on weight - is this puberty starting?

[chicaguapa]

Please don't flame me for being OTT with DD's weight etc. It's not something that we would ever talk to her about or even treat as an issue.

DD is 9 in one month's time and we've noticed that she's gaining an extra layer all over. She's not the most active of children but has always been very slight. She eats well and healthily, if you ignore that she won't eat fruit or veg, but has a balanced diet in terms of everything else she needs.

We thought that perhaps we should cut down on the portion sizes (she eats more than Supernanny said they should be eating at that age). But I mentioned it to my mum who said she thought it was most probably puberty starting.

Is this right? It seems very early.

It is possible - I often find with mine they go outwards and then have a growth spurt and shoot upwards - so they don't loose weight by weighing less, but loose the fat through growing taller

I have a great chart in my DD's French equivalent of the NHS Red Book which shows the evolution of BMI. Little girls are at their skinniest (ie lowest BMI) aged 5, having dropped continuously since they were 1. It then increases steeply upwards on an even keel until they are 11, when the slope gets even steeper, particularly so between 11 and 12, but continuing thereafter until 16 when the slope continues upwards but less steeply.

If your DD is having early puberty, this could perhaps explain her current weight gain. Any other signs?

Same happened to DD. She's now 11 and quite tubby - she is getting worried about it (but not much thankfully). Bonsoir's post is reassuring. She was stick until age 9.

you could try writing down everything she eats say over a couple of weeks meanwhile make an appointment to see your surgery dietician and show her what is being eaten and take a really good look at it yourself. fruit compensating for veg, can have 'hidden' sugar which does turn to fat.. she will soon set your mind at rest or suggest things. Doesn't sound like puberty there is no reason why children should put on weight then. Putting on weight at that young age can trigger puberty. good luck.