Weight issues of a 10 year old

[Sparklymommy]

I'm looking for a bit of advice really. My Dd1 is ten, she is very active, dances (ballet, tap, modern, jazz, Greek a d body con) every day except a Thursday. However I am concerned that she is currently looking a bit podgy. We have weighed her, a week ago she weighed 5 stone 10 ounces. She is 4'4". Having looked on the percentile charts she is heading into being overweight, but being so active I can't see why!

I have told her that we are going to cut out the sweets, chocolates and crisps and hit on healthy eating regime. However I am worrying that I may be doing the wrong thing as I am aware that she is very much in an industry whereby she could easily get an eating disorder. Her weight does fluctuate and she is, in my opinion, healthy. Should I be worrying, taking action or leaving it be?

She could be about to launch into a massive growth spurt- at her age that is pretty likely. My daughters chunked at 11/12. My experience is that they get porkier just before they shoot up. Has she begun puberty?

No she hasn't started puberty yet. It doesn't help that she is such a shorty. Perhaps she is due a growth spurt!

Hi Sparkley

Oops, too soon. Just wanted to say that it sounds like you are doing everything right and your daughter is probably goi to shoot up and slim down soon and you'll not know why you were worried.

In the meantime cutting down on sweets etc and possibly smaller portion sizes could help as, apparently, children's weight is massively diet influenced with exercise playing a much smaller role (no idea why). Exercise still, clearly, important for health but doesn't seem to have the dramatic effect on size and weight that you'd think. I don't think I'd mention any reasoning behind any changes you make to her diet as I agree that you don't want to add to any pressure that she may already be feeling to be "skinny".

Sure she'll be fine though!

Thank you.

It seems trying to cut out sweets just before Easter may be hqrder than i thought! Lol. She has just come home from her 11+ tutoring and her tutor has given her an easter egg but bless her she has had a small amount of it instead of a pudding. She appears to understand that we are trying to help her and i do think that possibly she may have a growth spurt in a minute.