Active discussions

Meet the Other Phone. A phone that grows with your child.

Meet the Other Phone.
A phone that grows with your child.

Buy now

Please or to access all these features

Talk
General health

Mumsnet doesn't verify the qualifications of users. If you have medical concerns, please consult a healthcare professional.

Original poster

bloody childhood obesity again (sorry)

45 replies

misdee · 09/06/2008 16:54

dh wont discuss it with me.

am getting extrmely worried about dd1 again.

she wants to eat all the time.

even when i direct her to the fruit bowl she wants more and more.

she has outgrown her brownies skort. just measured her and her tum is measuring 30". according to the charts on the guiding online shop that is for children 164cm tall. dd1 is just 125cm tall.

what do i do?

it is time to see the GP isnt it?

feeling like i have failed.

OP posts:
EffiePerine · 09/06/2008 16:55

is she about to grow again? How old is she?

If you're worried, have a word with your GP

Original poster
misdee · 09/06/2008 16:56

and am gettinf annoyed with dh as he keeps buying laods of junk like crisps and biscuts every bloody week. and he is meant to be watching his weight.

OP posts:
Original poster
misdee · 09/06/2008 16:57

she is 8.

and barely grown upwards in the last two years.

trousers which still fitted in length 2 summers ago still fit in length but not round the waist.

OP posts:
Mercy · 09/06/2008 16:58

Misdee, first of all you haven't failed anyone or at anything.

Ok, how old is dd1? 164cm is adult height imo, most young girls have much larger tummies than their hips, even my super slim dd. A waist doesn't develop until later.

belgo · 09/06/2008 17:00

Of course you haven't failed!

If she hasn't grown upwards in the last two years, and is now eating all the time, then I suspect she's about to have a growth spurt.

Original poster
misdee · 09/06/2008 17:01

i'n not even 164cm.

she has always been the shorter side of average for her age.

just getting annoyed as all my efforts for healty eating are being met with dh junk food addiction.

i'm worried dd1 will have the same weight problems as me.

the thing is her belly is big. and its noticable.

OP posts:
Original poster
misdee · 09/06/2008 17:01

belgo, i thought that last summer, and she didnt grow upwards then.

OP posts:
Herodias · 09/06/2008 17:01

is she on any steroids for asthma at all?
that can make weight control difficult, ime.

lulumama · 09/06/2008 17:02

does she look overweight/ chubbier/ bigger than her peers?

my friend has similar issue with her DD. who is tall, but also chunky and a propensity to put on weight and eat through boredom, habit etc... reducing portion size and not giving seconds seemed to help and encouraging excercise and playing out, which is easier in the summer.

Original poster
misdee · 09/06/2008 17:02

she is on inahler steroids. hasnt had any oral ones for over a year.

OP posts:
hanaflower · 09/06/2008 17:03

This reply has been deleted

Message withdrawn at poster's request.

Original poster
misdee · 09/06/2008 17:04

yes lulu, she looks bigger round the waist that her friends. who all tower above her in height anyway.

she is currently out on her bike, but need to take her to brownies soon. she is active, but can also be a lazy tike.

OP posts:
belgo · 09/06/2008 17:06

misdee - if she didn't grow upwards last year, then it's even more likely she will do this year.

Obviously I can't comment on whether or not she is overweight - you could be worrying unnecessarily.

But as mothers, we will always blame ourselves won't we? But at some point, we can't do any more then what we are doing. You can ask your dh to buy less junk, you can try and restrict your dd1's diet to a healthy diet, but at some point, children will just eat what they want.

I'm reminded of a family with three boys - two very skinny, one very chubby. You can't blame the parents then can you!

lulumama · 09/06/2008 17:06

does she know she is bigger, IFYSWIM?

how old is she?

my friends DD has put weight on due to a lot of trauma over the past year ( H left, bad terms, elderly grandparent who lives with them is sick ) and i know food has become a comfort and a habit for her

it is excacerbated too by the fact she is a bookworm and a bit lazy, and would rather read and be on computer than out running around with the other DCs, at play time at school she is sat down reading

Original poster
misdee · 09/06/2008 17:06

i dont think she is hungrey, as wont fill up on healthy stuff, but will ask for the junk dh buys. and he will let them have it.

dd1+2 get puddings at school at lunchtime, am i being mean but now saying no to puddings after meals here, and directing them again to the very well stocked fruit bowl.

OP posts:
Original poster
misdee · 09/06/2008 17:08

she does keep saying she is fat and prodding her belly.

OP posts:
lulumama · 09/06/2008 17:10

you are going to struggle with DH not being on board with this...

i know he wants to spoil them and make them happy and shower them with love,but ultimately, compromising their health is not loving.

food can be one of many different rewards and treats offered, not the only one

will she cook with you? fruit kebabs, fruit salad, even fruit pizza....home made flapjacks etc?

Mercy · 09/06/2008 17:11

I'm not qualified obviously but all I know is that at 10 years+, children should be following a low-fat diet similar to that of an adult.

In view of her age, maybe you could talk to the practice nurse (if you have one). I think also that people forget plenty of young children have 'puppy fat' until they they are 11/13

wannaBe · 09/06/2008 17:15

it's a very difficult line to tread as it's hard to strike the balance between making someone aware of weight issues and making the weight an issue.

You need to have a serious chat with Peter and at least make him see that all this junk food is not good for the kids (you can work on him later [wink). And then restrict portion sizes. You can do it suttly and over time your dd will become used to eating less.

If there is no junk food they can have fruit and that is all, and hopefully that will make a difference.

fiodyl · 09/06/2008 17:33

im not sure a 10yo should b on a low fat diet

I thought girls in particular needed a high fat diet during puberty

Also cutting out dairy type fats reduces calcium intake which can affect their bone development

Im not an expert though so maybe wrong

hanaflower · 09/06/2008 17:38

This reply has been deleted

Message withdrawn at poster's request.

witchandchips · 09/06/2008 17:39

My guess is that she is in part eating out of habit and boredom. Can you give her a job to do (painting a shed on some such, a bit of garden to plant) that will stop her snacking between meals.

Another thing (sounds really counter inuitive) but it might help for her to do some baking and cooking. If she starts reaching for the crisps cupboard tell her to make some biscuits instead. The hour or so delay in making them may actually dispell the desire stuff herself.

If you have a rule that any snack has to be made from scratch you will limit the amount of true horrors in the house and get away from the idea of food as an instant fix

Niecie · 09/06/2008 17:59

I wonder if it is an 8 yo thing? Maybe it is to do with just coming up to puberty - I have no idea but I can't think of a reason why 8 yrs is a problem.

DH's nephew got really tubby about this age.

DS1 who is 8 next month has suddenly got a tummy which he never had before and also won't stop eating. He has been growing upwards as well but evidently not fast enough.

It does worry me though as DNephew is really quite large at 10.5 and I don't want DS to be the same but the DN is not very tall - DS1 is the same height as him so maybe it won't be the same.

I have now said no seconds, except extra fruit at mealtimes - torture for DS as he doesn't like fruit much but will have some strawberries if really hungry. Also I have cut back on potatoes and pasta - no seconds of that either. Not sure it is enough though.

It is beginning to worry me too.

SoupDragon · 09/06/2008 18:04

I think you need to give Peter a stern talking to.

Can you chat to the GP without your DD there to see what he thinks? It might be he can give you ideas without having to make a big deal of it with her.

twoisplenty · 09/06/2008 18:10

Do think it could be to do with craving the bad stuff? If she's eating junk from dh, then it does become a sort of addiction because the blood sugar levels are up and down all day (and all night if she has a snack before bed). So offering fruit won't solve her hunger because her body is desparate for white refined sugar.

If she could just eat normally for a couple of days, her sugar levels would stabilise and then eating fruit would actually feel nourishing for her.

May I suggest you get a copy of "Slim 4 life" by Jason Vale, and it will explain it in a better way.

Swipe left for the next trending thread