How much does your 10 year old dd weigh?

[Dancergirl]

So with all this talk about childhood obesity and not even being able to recognise when your child is overweight these days, I weighed mine yesterday.

Dd1 is 10.5 and weighs 38kg (6 stone). She is about 145cm tall I think. Does this sound about right? This gives a BMI of about 18 which sounds fine but are there different ranges for children?

And is there any truth that they have to reach 7.5 stone before periods start?

Adult BMI calculations are not valid for children.

Oh. So how do I know if this weight is ok for her?

There is an NHS children's BMI calculator -- google for it. That BMI does sound high for a child, but see what online says.

DD is 10yo, about 135cm, and around 27 kg (maybe a bit less).

dd is about 23kg !

NHS calculator, pay attention to the centiles.

I think that's quite heavy, I was that weight and height at 12 and was the fattest kid in my class (though we didn't have any fat kids and I wore age 8 school skirts)...I think the periods thing is rubbish, I definitely started weighing less than that and one of my mates has only weighed that much pregnant!

dd 9.12 is 148cm and weighs 5 stone 5. she's tall and lean.

no idea about the periods thing.

Thinking about it I had boobs and hips at that age and size and that's why I seemed bigger, even though I wore smaller clothes, all the others were tall skinny types in my class. I don't know that it's worth comparing her to other kids, ask your GP if you're worried but she's probably fine I would have thought.

it says my dd's bmi is 18. she is definitely not fat at all. slim and straight up and down!!

That kid's calculator says she's fine :)

My DD (10.2) is 140cm tall and 27kg. According to the NHS calculator she's on the 2nd centile (as is my 7 year old son so maybe i just produce them skinny).

How does your DD compare with her friends? Has she mentioned being fatter than them?

Beanbagz - no she hasn't and as far as I can see, she doesn't seem bigger than her peers.

It's possible I've got her height wrong - she was just 140cm last summer but she is going through a growth spurt so she could be taller.

God, I'm really worried now....

Just mentioned this to my mum (retired nurse). She says she despaired of me thinking I was huge because I insisted on comparing myself to other girls, I was an early developer for my class and it made me v paranoid. she says if NHS Bmi calc says she's fine (which it does - age 10, 145cm and 6st give 71st centile which is healthy) then she's fine and to leave it well alone, just provide a good diet and encourage her to enjoy sports and dance etc.

The comparisons are a tricky thing at this age, they do compare. My sister was a later developer than me and she used to cry that she was too skinny, you can't win!

10.4 is 32kg and 146cm.

She has started puberty and is having a huge growth spurt. She's quite active, does a lot of ballet etc but she has a huge appetite at the moment. Always hungry. Starving after school so normally has cereal, toast etc then dinner later.

Do you think I should be watching what she eats more?

My DD same age is 140 cms and 32 kgs. She is quite small compared to most of her friends. She is 32nd centiles on the chart so a healthy weight.

If you are seriously worried then make an appointment to speak to your GP or practice nurse, but the NHS children's BMI calculator suggests she is perfectly fine. Please don't start restricting her diet without first taking some proper medical advice and be very careful what you transmit to her about her size - if she thinks you think she's fat when she isn't you are asking for trouble.

does she look 'fat' op. i really don't think she sounds it at all!!

my dd went thru a humongous growth spurt between 8-9. two shoes sizes in 4 months, and 5 inches in height in one year!! Ate like a horse, would not stop. Was having 3 lunches, first one at 10.30, another at 12 and another at 2!! (in the hols)

this coincided with start of puberty too. Armpit sweat, then painful breast tissue, then pubic hair. Now we have blackheads and pimples poor lamb.

IF your child is active, eats healthily and looks okay to you, I shouldn't worry. She sounds active and busy, so probably needs alot to eat. My eldest child regularly could eat the same as me, and is not fat. Also, all children seem to put on weight (puppy fat) before having a growth spurt.

Mine's slightly taller and quite a bit heavier -- and she is just into the overweight category at the moment, and looks it. We always seem to have to watch her quite carefully, but it's becoming hard to do so subtly when she has two tapeworms for brothers.

Ohmissjones, I am very aware of all the issues surrounding girls and body image which is why I've never really thought about it before.

But how on earth do parents handle it with a really overweight child?

Lancelottie - that's really hard. Does she know she's overweight? How do you handle it - limit her portion size etc?

Thanks, Dancer. Yes, she's becoming very aware of it -- we avoid mentioning weight/fat/diets etc in any such terms, just bore on about healthy mix of food and lots of fun exercise (sigh), but other 10-year-old girls are not very tactful.

Yes, we limit portions, and puddings, and seconds. Meanwhile, her underweight but 6 ft tall brother could do to eat twice as much!

DD is 9.3. She is 128cm and 57lbs.