Weightloss for 5yo boy

[missyelliottrocks]

Hi there, pls no judgement. I just need some ideas and tips. Does anyone have actual experience of achieving weightloss in a 5yr old or that kind of age. My boy is a big lad and has a healthy appetite. It was easier to get more of the veg in but he's now getting more wilful and refusing it but also wanting seconds etc. I am treading a fine line where I don't want to cultivate a complex around food but also actively guiding him in healthier food choices. I can also see his activity levels plummeting but I am trying to keep on top of this. He currently weighs almost 30kg (approx 4.7stones).

If you achieved actual weight loss did you achieve it via mainly diet or exercise or both? I am doing a fair bit of both but I don't feel there is much difference. He is def the biggest in his class and I don't want him to grow up with this as a negative memory. he is a happy lad and quite active but I am scared and worried but working very hard not to project my fears too much on him and rob him of happy childhood memories. But I am willing to take on any exercise and diet tips from anyone who's actually achieved results in this age group.
Thx

At that age, the usual advice would not be to achieve weight loss. It would be to keep weight static, or only rising slowly. Thus, as he grows vertically, he'll slim out with his BMI falling.

Exercise is good for reducing the negative effects of obesity, but not that great for losing weight. So encourage increased activity, especially any increased activity that he finds fun. But it's not as important as the food.

With food, the first thing is usually to look for any healthy swaps. You probably know them, things like carrot sticks instead of crisps, water instead of sugary fizzy drinks etc. Next thing is to think about increasing the proportion of meals that's filling healthy stuff, so trying to encourage things like veg, and reduce the proportion of beige food. Then look at portion size. Portion sizes have crept upwards over the years, as have average plate sizes. A 5 year old who likes food might want the same size portion as an adult, but they don't need it. If you suddenly dramatically reduce portion size, your life will be made hell. Gradually creep it downwards. Smaller plates can be your friend here. One of the main tools paediatric dieticians seem to use is food dairying. The idea is that you (at this age it is you, not him) keep a diary of absolutely everything he eats and drinks for a couple of weeks. Most of us then realise they're eating more than we think, often with snacks that easily slip the mind. It makes it easier to spot what to try to target.

Hope some of that helps.

Hi there nocoolnamesleft
Thx so much for your helpful tips. I really like the food diary idea. I will start that tomorrow. Yes about the healthy swaps. I do that a lot but need to do a hell lot more.

We have this thing of 'movie night' friday nights and it is the one day they're allowed crisps popcorn etc but I think this needs knocking on the head cos it has become an entry point for junk that i don't normally bring in the house and it goes on over the weekend.

Breakfast is another sore point! I avoid gluten with him cos I think it bloats him but he doesn't love eggs and as his sister has nut allergy I can't let him have peanut butter cos he still eats messily so right now I'm trawling the internet for breakfast ideas.

Thankfully for all my faults, fizzy drinks is not one of them. These very rarely get into my house so they don't drink them.

Thanks a lot for the ideas and the diary looks like the first really different thing I can do that should be very revealing. Much appreciated x