6 year old DS bit overweight with moobs

[marylou75]

Help please! I am struggling to know what to do really with my DS. He has a huge appetite, loads of energy and really very active normally. But I am a bit worried about him being overweight - he is overweight for his age, but is also tall and broad. I do try to encourage healthy choices. He already eats plenty of variety and loves his fruit and veg. I am overweight, as are a lot of my family, and I do worry he will be just like me and my family. My DH basically said he didn't want him to be like me and my family either. So I am feeling really low at the moment about what to do. I know he is only 6 but I am not going to make excuses like its just puppy fat, I heard that when I was growing up and it didn't do me any good at all. Has anyone had similar experiences with their children and how did you tackle it?

What are his portion sizes like & how much food does he eat? I know 2 separate people (family & friend) who have this issue with their DS with both saying ‘he’s always hungry, he has a big appetite”, they feed them adult portions but don’t understand why their children are overweight. (age 7 & 9 btw)

Appetite can be learned behaviour but if he isn’t having enough lean protein and healthy fats he could be feeling hungry.

www.sharecare.com/health/controlling-appetite/what-is-difference-hunger-appetite

Agree it's probably portion size and it can be hard to reduce but worth it long term. Maybe have a day where you measure everything?

So food can change your hormones. Processed food makes you feel less full when full and sends hungry signals when you are not hungry.

So if he eats processed foods then he will feel hungry even when he's not.

If he starts eating more healthily his appetite will decrease.

Smaller portions of any processed food.
Larger portions of vegetables.
Snack can be a piece of fruit or nuts or cracker.
Drink water.
Walk everyday and one physical activity a week.
Ride bike, play football or play at the park more.

You'll have to be strong for him. He's a child and will need you to be a great role model and very encouraging for him.

How do you know he’s overweight? Have you put his measurements into the nhs child bmi calculator? Is he a little or a lot over?

I agree with measuring portions for a week or two so you know you’re feeding the right amount. Maybe a whole family health kick would be a good plan so he’s not singled out.

Can you focus on providing foods like grilled chicken breast, broccoli or carrots and mash. Pasta with home made tomato sauce & meatballs. Reduced sugar baked beans & ketchup. Wholemeal bread is more filling than white.

Keep it very simple. Don't have sweets, crisps, biscuits or processed snacks or in the house. No carbonated drinks (even low-cal). Offer water. Measure portions.
And get your ds out walking or kicking a ball about every day, now that the weather is warmer.

How do you know he’s overweight?

Op says he has moobs and so he’s clearly overweight.

I would not raise it with him but try and make subtle changes, so up the veg, decrease the rest of the portion sizes, try and increase physical activity, drinks should just be water.

We have the opposite problem and rather than worry about portion size I would look at what you are all eating and make sure it’s nutritious enough. Do you always start from ‘whole food’ ingredients? It makes such a difference , we do this and cook very simply but it’s filling and we avoid anything processed.
Our DC eat as much as they like and for breakfast might have full fat Greek yoghurt for example with seeds or nuts and fruit etc and lots of fresh meals - I also give DS a boiled egg or wholemeal bread and cheese or fruit in between meals and we only have crisps for example as a rare thing when on a picnic or celebrating Something .
Is his main drink water? This can help too (or full fat milk also nutritious and filling) . I basically make sure nearly everything provides something useful to a growing child and avoid sugar unless making a fruit-based pudding .