Asd & adhd children both 99th percentile

[Mickymedic]

Hi my middle child and youngest are both have asd adhd and dyspraxia, they are both on different medications. They are both really tall my 12yo is 5ft 8 and my 8yo is 4ft7 both are overweight in the 99th percentile! We have a very strict routine and I cook healthy meals 6 days a week (1 day is a freezer day due to speed for clubs) my ds 12 is engrossed on his computer he is learning to code so he’s always on it we have recently gave him the responsibility of walking the dog each day, my dd horse rides and swims once a week and she goes to
brownies both children struggle with physical anything due to dcd so riding bikes/ scooters are a no go! My son hates sports so it’s difficult to get him moving! Anyone have any advice I feel like a bad mum seeing them gain weight! I already have locks on my cupboards due to my ds waking through the night and sneaking snacks!

Who says they are overweight? Can you see their ribs? Are you and their Dad tall?

erm .... are they in 99th centile for both height and weight ... and therefore not overweight?

How about the nhs bmi calculator for children? What does that say?

www.nhs.uk/live-well/healthy-weight/bmi-calculator/

According to the bmi calculator they are both overweight! I’m short dad is 6ft4 and very broad!

Which centiles are they on for height?

95th

They sound perfectly in proportion then. I wouldn't worry.

My DN has always been in the 98th for both height and weight. She's not overweight at all, just perfectly in proportion.

BMI calculators are also not massively reliable, take rugby players who are tall and a lot of muscle, they are often morbidly obese on BMI calculators.

I'd go off how they look rather than relying on the centiles too much.

What do they eat ? Can you give some typical days?

My DS also autistic, adhd, dyspraxic but un medicated. I was told that adhd medication suppresses your hunger so could you start by looking if it's to do with their medication. My DS has just turned 14 and already well over 6ft, he's not overweight but is very broad, size 12 shoe. The doctors can refer you to a dietician

Typically breakfast 8am cereal or toast and fruit they both have school lunches but at home they usually have a toastie with yogurt a small Kit Kat or pack of crisps, snack at 3 veg sticks humus/ crackers and cheese and fruit
tea at 5 is a mix of either stew, burrito, pasta &meatballs, homemade soup & bread, risotto, or broccoli creamy pasta
then pud is usually a yog or choc bar

I know this sounds like a lot of food but with adhd they need to eat little and often!

That sounds okay apart from all the chocolate bars, and maybe a lot overall for the younger one.

Ditch the chocolate bar for pud concept.
Empty the snack drawer so there's nothing there like crisps chocolate bars and biscuits. They are all crap empty calories.

Your eldest has puberty coming up so will be starving soon. Up the protein - omelettes, salmon, chicken. They can be snacks as well as mains.