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Children's health

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Chubby Teen

11 replies

isobeladams · 26/09/2018 21:33

I have recently begun getting increasingly concerned about my 14 almost 15-year-old son. He is beginning to look more and more chubby and I'm getting worried that it might lead to horrible health consequences. He is very confident and I don't really think he has noticed all that much really but when he is topless he has small man boobs and a belly that sticks out quite far. This is becoming more and more noticeable with clothes on and he ha this weird habit of lifting his t-shirt up to show his belly which is fine but is obviously showing his increasing large belly. His face is also becoming fatter and he is starting to develop a double chin.
He does do a few forms of exercise including football out of school and PE within school. He eats relatively healthily at home and my other children are both healthy however he does go out with his friends to town most weekends which could mean he is making unhealthy decisions of what he eats them.
I am worried he will become more self-conscious and could lose his confidence especially when kids are so mean to each other nowadays and while he hasn't mentioned anything to me yet I don't want him to be bullied or anything like that. I'm not completely sure what he weighs, but i could always find out, but isn't too tall for his age at about 158cm and while I don't think he's obese or that overweight I don't want it to lead to anything worse. Any experience, advice support or just people to chat about it would be great. Thank You

OP posts:
KingIrving · 26/09/2018 21:51

If your almost 15 years old measures only 158 you should see a doctor. My 12 years old is 10 cm higher than that

isobeladams · 26/09/2018 21:53

Sorry, that was a typo it was meant to be 168cm.

OP posts:
purpleme12 · 26/09/2018 21:59

Eh? What a stupid comment. Some people are shorter than others. You don't need to see a doctor if they're that height!

KingIrving · 26/09/2018 22:19

158cm at 15 is not a stupid comment but a medical issue especially if associate with breast tissue.

titchy · 26/09/2018 22:27

158cm at 15 is not a stupid comment

Yes it is. Unless both parents are very tall, or there is no signs of puberty, 5' 3", while obviously short, is well within normal parameters for a teen boy. And an adult male for that matter.

Moobs and a belly - I suspect he is technically obese I'm afraid. Encourage sensible choices. More exercise - maybe as a family, get off bus one stop earlier etc. Join a rugby club? Cycling? And reduce portion sizes and the amount of cash he has for snacks. Decent protein based breakfast and a banana for break. Can you monitor lunch choices?

At the end of the day burn more than you use and you lose weight. You have to model it, but ultimately he has to be aware, and responsible.

KingIrving · 27/09/2018 04:28

Well, if I was a first time poster in a parenting forum, writing I had a 15 son 158cm tall, I would want for someone to point me towards booking a GP visit to rule out medical issues.

isobeladams · 27/09/2018 18:05

So just a quick update. I asked him whether he knew what he weighed but he said he didn't so I asked him to step on the scales in which he did and found out that he weighs 70.5kg. I don't really know if this is all that much but he doesn't look overweight or obese yet just a tad chubby.
Many Thanks

OP posts:
titchy · 27/09/2018 19:15

96th centile for bmi. Top end of overweight category.

isobeladams · 27/09/2018 21:03

Sorry, but what does this mean?

OP posts:
titchy · 27/09/2018 21:14

It means in a group of 100 boys his height and age, he'd be the 4th heaviest. An average weight for a kid his age and height would be 54kg.

isobeladams · 28/09/2018 19:24

Wow. That's not at all what I thought. Anybody in a similar situation and what to support each other or anybody been through this. Need to get my act together and have a chat with him.

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