Help with an overweight toddler

[Mushroo]

My 22 month old is overweight and whenever I try and raise it with the GP etc I just get brushed off and told it’s too early to be worried. But, I’m not sure that’s true?

Her BMI is 99th percentile - and she weighs about 12.5kg (about 80th percentile) and height is about 80cm (20th percentile). They might not be the exact right figures but thereabouts.

She just loves food and has eaten large portions since we weaned her at 6months. There’s no juice, chocolate, crisps, cake at all but maybe too many carbs?

Yesterday she had:
Breakfast: a weetabix, small scattering of Rice Krispies (about a teaspoon as she likes them but I don’t think they’re particularly a great breakfast), a tablespoon of full fat Greek yogurt with chia seeds and strawberries.

Nursery: see photo

Dinner at home: roast chicken, potatoes and peas.

I think the problem is she will just eat what she enjoys with no sign of getting full really! So she ate probably 3 or 4 potatoes at dinner which is what I would eat, but as she’s eating her veg and chicken too she genuinely seems that hungry.

I would say she probably has too many carbs, but cutting down carbs for a toddler seems wrong?

Actively level wise she’s at nursery all day, and I encourage her to walk there and back (it’s about a 0.3 mile walk) but she is not naturally a particularly active child and will resist walking.

Any advice? Am I right to be worried about this and cutting portions down?

She is constantly asking for snacks which I try and cut down, but she will often have a babybel after nursery, or some nut butter (she’s a little weirdo who just loves it on a spoon 🤷‍♀️)

I was under the impression that at this age dietary fat formed up to 30-40% of calories and that children this young are typically very good at regulating what they eat. Fat is also needed for brain development and certain vitamins so I wouldn’t be removing things like Greek yogurt or nut butter personally. I’d ensure that nursery aren’t asking her to “finish her food” and allowing her to listen to her body. Would perhaps remove the processed part of her diet and perhaps increase veg. If you continue to be concerned is a child nutritionists a good idea? Personally I would not restrict her meals at this point.

@Silverpaws children need guidance. And humans get used to eat more if its done every day. If you child gets used to eat 4 big meals a day plus snacks, its time to reduce that yo a healthy amount - before they notice it! She needs to learn how a healthy portion looks like. Some children have inbuilt portion control, many don’t.
The child is in the top 1% for weight compared to other children of her age and height. That is a reason to critically look at food intake and gently correct on where things are not quite right. Nobody suggests a diet - just a course correction back to normal.

Too much food. She is having 4 meals, 2 with dessert and snacks. No need for dinner at home. Snacks at nursery need to be fruit or veg only. no need for milk during the day either.

My second was a short chunk at that age, she was still bf as well. She was really heavy. But she’s not now, she’s fine and the correct weight.
Little ones are fine being chunky, it only takes a couple of nasty viruses one after the other and they lose a lot of the extra weight.

My slightly older toddler is at nursery and I offer toast with cheese / crackers and a small yoghurt when they gets home.

they have an older sibling who needs to eat dinner, which has been a challenge as they want to eat what they are having, so since Sept we have offered a tiny portion, like two teaspoons of their siblings dinner instead of toast. They get upset as they want a ‘big bit’ but I know they don’t need it!

I agree, maybe just a snack when she gets home if she’s still hungry. I used to work at a Nursery and our managers told parents not to bother with an evening meal after all the Nursery food.

I think it’s way, way too many carbs, at every meal. And then you want to cut out the yoghurt of all things? Cut out the weetabix! Cereal is not good for you. Focus on protein.

I’d not be happy with that food at nursery myself either, all those sweet, carby, puddingy things. Appreciate you probably can’t do much about it though.

It doesn’t sound like she’s eating abnormal amounts at all. My kids would always have a ‘x2’ next to the nursery meal whatever it was then wanted a full tea when they got home too. I think so long as you model healthy balanced behaviour, minimise junk food and upfs, make sure she has plenty of water to junk, don’t use food as a reward and encourage an active lifestyle - all of which you seem to be doing - she will be absolutely fine. Toddlers often grow out then up. Putting a 2 year old on a diet or limiting her portion sizes when she is telling you she is hungry is madness.

DS was a bit like this. Then turned 2 and started turning his nose up at food like a lot of 2 year olds do. He became a bit picky (thankfully he’s now nearly 3.5 and getting over the picky phase) as a lot of 2 year olds do. He then became thin almost overnight and I started worrying the other way that he just wasn’t eating enough. Hopefully you have a similar experience. I definitely didn’t do anything.

You are the parent! I'm sorry, but you are responsible for her weight. Exercise more and implement portion control - appetites grow to what they are used to and at her age she won't associate that feeling meaning she needs to stop putting yummy things in her mouth either. And yes, too much carbs, not enough veg. And the snacks, peanut butter, cheese, some high fat snacks for someone who is overweight. Try things more like carrot sticks as that would also increase her veg intake.

I'm so confused by the people saying drop the Greek yoghurt and chia seeds. They are both nutritious.

She basically has two breakfasts, then two snacks lunch and dinner at nursery, followed by another snack and then dinner at home. That’s a lot of meals and snacks in a day, especially as you say she’s not a very active child. I’d cut it to one breakfast (keep the Greek yoghurt with chia), no snack after nursery and just a very small portion of dinner with just the protein and veg if you want to keep the family dinner.

Yeah chia seeds are a great source of fibre and greek yogurt has good protein and is good for the gut. I’m not sure why people are saying to cut that out! Deserts and scones are not great for every day but otherwise seems a healthy diet.

My daughter is 4 and I think is in the 95th percentile for weight - I asked my gp about it and she said that bmi is a whole load of outdated nonsense as it doesn’t take into account muscle, bone density and people’s natural build. She added that you can tell by looking at my child that she is super healthy. My daughter has a very heavy bone structure and is quite strong, people are always so shocked when they try and lift her - she is about 20kg but is thin! She goes through phases where she eats everything in sight. She gets a bit chunky and then she shoots up - in the summer she was always hungry and went up 3 shoe sizes. At the moment she is going through a phase of not eating anything which is actually much harder to manage.

A friend of mine whose kid is now in his teens and as skinny as a rake said when he was young he would go through ravenously hungry phases and get chubby but it was always followed by a growth spurt.

If it is healthy food don’t restrict it, their bodies have so much growing to do and you will give them mental issues around food. We never say no to healthy stuff but we will say no to lots of white bread or junk food. She used to be juice free now she is allowed one glass a day and gets chocolate about 3 times a week. It is also important to make sure they are not on devices or watching tv too much as toddlers are supposed to run for at least 3 hours a day!

My DD was bf and weaned on home cooking and was huge. I used to be worried about her size but the HVs weren't concerned as my DH and I were slim. Having said this I do think your DC is having too many meals and snacks.

Really? How odd. Who wants to cuddle a skinned rabbit?

What were you like at that age? And your husband? What heights are you both?
family traits are strong indicators.
also, someone had to be at the top of the chart, as that’s how the chart was calculated. If your gp isn’t concerned then go with that.

my sister was always told ‘are you actually hungry?’ As she would just eat and eat as a child. Same as an adult. Turns out she doesn’t ever feel full. Could be the same here possibly.

A 22mo is just fine. Especially if the GP is not concerned.

stop projecting your own eating disorder onto your baby.

they grow at different speeds.

make healthy food available - at least 5, but aim for 8 , portions of fruit and veg a day. Ie at least 2 or 3 at every meal and 1 or 2 for snacks.
Ensure there is enough physical activity and time outside
encourage water drinking only
see the dentist twice a year

also don’t fret. Kids and especially toddlers go through phases. Some won’t stop eating and then suddenly seem to live on fresh air.

do not restrict meat fruit n veg. Go easy on the nut butters bread and yoghurt.

my oldest was an absolute tank at 24mo. So damned solid. And ate for Britain. At 3yo they seemed to live on air. In between - swings n roundabout. . At 13 they are slim but strong.

why doesn’t she ever feel full though? that’s got to mean something is wrong with her, surely?

did she become overweight?

I can’t believe a nursery is feeding her baked apple, a scone AND a winter crumble in one day. She’s probably eating a lot because of the sugar crashes. I think the problem is them, more than anything you are doing at home.

Although, that said, you could make a couple of easy tweaks at home: no second dinner, and give your leftover dinner to her as her breakfast OR switch out her current breakfast for oatmeal or meat or eggs (if not allergic).

Are you sure you're calculating correctly? Looking at the WHO charts 99th centile at 22 months is around 34lbs.

My son has just turned 23 months and is 2 stone but I would never consider him overweight.

Your comment about formula is disgustingly rude. Formula = fat child does not automatically follow. As people on this thread have said, some breastfed babies are absolute chunks. My sons were both fully formula fed. My eldest is an absolute beanpole (over 120cm and 20kg at 7 years old) and my youngest is tiny as well, albeit not so tall (12.5kg at 2y8m). Your comment insults the OP regardless of whether she breastfed or formula fed - and you insult many other parents too with your frankly ridiculous sweeping statement.

That’s a lot of food imo.

For comparison mine has
Breakfast - 1 1/2 weetabix and a banana.
Snack 10.30 - piece of fruit if at school or treat snack at home- brioche or 2 biscuits

Lunch 12/12.20 - school meal with pudding (not generous portions) or poached lunch of sandwich (2 slices bread) 2 salad items and about 1/2 normal size pack of crisps from a tub (grab bag of skips does 3 days). Fruit, yoghurt and 1 treat such as a Freddo, kitkat, soreen bar.
Snack after school/ afternoon is usually a little box of rasins or fruit or yo-yo.
dinner is a proper cooked meal with veg or salad. Once a week there will be a frozen meal like 4 chicken dippers 4 smiley faces and not quite a half size tin of beans. Then fruit or a mousse or occasionally ice cream after.
Most weekends there is usually an unhealthy take away which she shares.

This is my active and sporty 6 year old.

Mine would probably struggle with the amount of times yours eats (I expect quantities are quite small though).

How long has your dd been at nursery?
How many days a week?
I think she has just got used to feeling full as she seems to eat a fair amount of times through the day so her tummy is probably never empty. Do you take lots of snacks when you take her out?

One of my friends with both of hers from 6 months CONSTANTLY offered a snack and another and another then wondered why they didn’t eat lunch or dinner 🙄 now they are 3 and 7 and still aren’t good eaters - she has to bribe them to eat as they are still not in a habit of eating- I say this to advise you change what you decide to asap.

Definitely cut out her evening meal that’s just madness. When mine were at nursery and probably offered food like yours, they would have a token snack/ meal just as a little top up like a Weetabix or a piece of toast or soup. IF they hadn’t eaten much that day then they would be offered something more substantial (we kept a stash of prepared meals in the freezer).

I think you also need to occupy her more, boredom makes kids want food often- still happens with mine now. However I think your dd has just got used to a full tummy feeling which can make her less likely to feel active.

Good luck

You must recognise that, regardless of her health or her weight now, your child was a very extreme outlier though? She weighed 33% more than the 99.6th centile weight.
I would agree with you though that OP’s child’s weight isn’t “shocking” - she’s said she’s 80th centile so clearly not particularly unusual. The mismatch with the height centile is presumably what concerns OP, rather than the weight in isolation.

@TTCJJB the little girl is also quite short. Weight percentiles need to be looked at in combination with height percentiles. She would need to grow about 2 inches at the same weight in the next month to be back to a healthy weight - not likely.
Mine both were about the same weight at that age, but 4 and 5 inches taller.
she will of course grow a lot over the next years, which is why spotting challenges early is so important. She objectively eats a lot, and small adjustments will go a long way - before it becomes a real problem, and before the little girl will ever notice the difference.

If she’s having wraps and dessert at 17:28 I’m not sure why she’s coming home to a roast?

I cannot comment on the overweight bit and she may well not be but 2 dinners isn’t necessary for a toddler.

breakfast, morning snack, lunch, afternoon snack and then tea.

She could have carrot/cucumber hummous before bed if she needs something else or not have tea at nursery and then dinner at home instead if she needs to eat later on in the day.