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Original poster

11yr old low BMI

10 replies

Glitterfarti · 21/07/2023 11:27

My DD has been weighed at school, 1st centile, BMI 13. We are waiting for results of blood tests and I’m trying to educate myself but resources scarce for twiggy children!
She can be emotional but hasn’t expressed to me any worries about her weight - there has been some self harm/experimental behaviour.

Hoping for some insight as to whether this bmi can be healthy. Family members are being dismissive/minimising my concerns, so I don’t want to create a problem that isn’t there, but don’t want to ignore it either….

OP posts:
nocoolnamesleft · 21/07/2023 11:35

Healthy range of BMI changes a lot with age.

nocoolnamesleft · 21/07/2023 11:37

Sorry, posted too soon. If literally just 11, then bmi on 0.4th centimetres, which might be okay, if nearly 12 then would be lower.

nocoolnamesleft · 21/07/2023 11:38

Sod autocorrect. 0.4th centile. I give up.

Original poster
Glitterfarti · 21/07/2023 11:49

Thank you for your reply, she’s only just 11. GP and school nurse gave centile, I know she was 0.4th in 2019 but paed wasn’t interested because she was energetic and it wasn’t a recent or sudden thing.

OP posts:
Itisyourturntowashthebath · 21/07/2023 13:36

Are her height and weight percentiles close?

BMI is not used on eleven year olds as they are usually prepubescent and meant to be skinny.

Original poster
Glitterfarti · 21/07/2023 14:29

No, she’s about 37th centile for height. BMI was given by the GP and she said it’s one of the referral criteria, so I think BMI is used for children in certain circumstances. Her wfh as far as I can work out is just under 80%.

OP posts:
nocoolnamesleft · 21/07/2023 18:24

Itisyourturntowashthebath · 21/07/2023 13:36

Are her height and weight percentiles close?

BMI is not used on eleven year olds as they are usually prepubescent and meant to be skinny.

BMI is used in children, but on a centile chart, not on an adult chart. The centile I gave above is based on the relevant WHO chart, as made available by RCPCH. Body mass index (BMI) chart | RCPCH

Body mass index (BMI) chart

The BMI centile is a simple and reliable indicator of a healthy body weight in childhood. Where severe overweight or underweight is a concern, or where there is a need for monitoring weight over time, BMI can be calculated and plotted on this chart.

https://www.rcpch.ac.uk/resources/body-mass-index-bmi-chart

Original poster
Glitterfarti · 21/07/2023 18:38

This is much clearer than the charts I was squinting at earlier, thank you!

OP posts:
Scrapeagle · 23/07/2023 17:09

I came on to post very similar! DD is 11 and 79% wfh, but has always been tiny and I'm not sure whether to be worried or not. I've been reading the eating disorder threads for a while (due to a colleague's situation) which made me start weighing a year ago, and she's now lighter(% wise) than she was but not restricting, full of energy ... but a fussy eater and often very pale.

So I'm moving her to 3 meals and 3 snacks, and encouraging her to eat lots of cake. So far she's ecstatic. I am not too worried as my family are all skinny, but the threads have made me realise that she needs more of a margin. I don't want a disorder to kick in if she has a growth spurt or is I'll or whatever, and I think it mightif we're unlucky. Best to have some buffer weight. But someone has to be 1st centile, right?

Original poster
Glitterfarti · 24/07/2023 21:45

It’s so difficult to know if it’s mountains or molehills! GP has jumped on it though so I’m glad of that - they ran blood tests and have referred her for counselling. I’m very wary of the potential for this to become much more entrenched and problematic as the hormones hit in earnest…

OP posts:
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