DS on 99th centile...any advice please?

[Needingsomeadvice]

DS is 7.5. He was a premature baby, so small for his age until about 3, at which point he shot up height wise and seemed to catch up overnight. His build is chunky, has broad shoulders and looks very solid. His dad is the same (plus overweight) and his paternal grandfather too (he is very tall). I am also always struggling with my weight, as is most of my family.

DS is 4ft 2 and weighs 5st 10 currently. We try to feed him healthily but he nags constantly for food, seems very greedy and always complains of hunger and thirst. He is starting to thicken around the middle and I am trying to help him without making it a big issue, but I am so worried as DH and I were similar at that age and still struggle.

I know that there is a lot of government advice, but does anyone have any ideas on how to help him slim down as he grows and become a better weight? My own mother put me on diets from age 9 and that obviously did not help so I am worried I will also get it wrong .

Rowgtfc72 Thanks for your reply also. I understand what you mean about 'solid' looking. DS has only just started to look 'chubby' rather than just solid very recently. It is hard because people often assume that if your child is overweight that you feed them junk like fizzy drinks and chips constantly. I know kids who are a normal weight but have sweets every single day coming out of school a good friend of DS's who is regularly drinking a can of coke on the way out of the gates. My DS was a bit aghast as he always thought coke was for grown-ups anyway. This child is thin but never eats fruit and vegetables (he came to our house a few times for tea). His lunchbox is full of chocolate biscuits and crisps, sandwiches always choc spread or jam. DS is a bit envious because he keeps telling me about it! But to look at him he would look healthier because he is thinner but obviously that doesn't tell the whole story?

sanfairyanne We have stopped buying anything because I noticed DS is like is dad - if it's in the house he wants to eat it until it is gone, but if it isn't he doesn't think about it!

He is very insistent about being hungry, gets very shouty and ends up throwing a tantrum about it at least once a day. He told the teacher at school (in a circle time type activity) that he wanted to change himself because he's always hungry when he's being told he shouldn't be . I have noticed though that having something interesting he's in the middle of when he's called to have dinner is a good thing because he then doesn't overeat or ask for more - just dashes off to continue his activity.

i would think you will soon see results if you keep him busy, spend time doing something with him when he complains of hunger (ok ds, dinner time in an hour, lets play badminton while we wait), dont have snacks available and reduce portion size

as he grows, he will 'stretch'