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Original poster

Ds2 is 38 lb n weight amd 39 nches tall

13 replies

coldtits · 01/04/2010 14:04

He's overweight by 1 lb. He's near enough 4 years old.

What do I do? Seriously, for adults I know the advice is eat less and do more, but I can't make him run when he's tired and I can't stop him eating when he's hungry!

I feel quite ashamed, but I really do feed him a good diet. I don't even have a deep fryer. and use fry spray for shallow frying.

OP posts:
waitingforbedtime · 01/04/2010 14:05

Don't be silly, he is 1lb 'overweight' - if he is otherwise fit and healthy dont worry about it.

Original poster
coldtits · 01/04/2010 14:06

Sorry, he's actually 3 lbs overweight, which is a lot for someone so small.

OP posts:
CantSupinate · 01/04/2010 14:06

Can you switch to lower fat options (like semi to skim milk, and fruit instead of toast for snacks, or less butter on the toast), and try to reduce portion sizes? That's what I have done with my DS (who also tends towards the pudgy).

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Original poster
coldtits · 01/04/2010 14:08

Honestly, he's a bit podgy lately, I was starting to think so myself which is why I calculated his weight and height etc.

He's outside playing football with his brother.

Oh I DO feel bad. I NEVER force him to finish meals, I don't dish out crap.

OP posts:
Original poster
coldtits · 01/04/2010 14:15

We already have skimmed milk, and fruit for snacks.

Maybe I need to put leaner meat on his plate and have a word with his dad (who feeds them on pizza and chips at his house, although there is no way he is solely to blame)

A typical preschool lunch box is a round of ham sandwiches with thin spread marg, a 1.5 inch square slice of flapjack, some carrot and cucumber sticks and some fruit.

It seems very wrong to cut back on a four year old's sandwiches, but is this what I need to do?

OP posts:
alarkaspree · 01/04/2010 14:20

Do you feel that he eats a lot for his age, or is less physically active than you'd like? If so then I think you can change his habits but just very gradually. For example, if you still use a buggy get rid of it, if he has a scooter take that out with you - then if he is really tired you can drag him along on it (ds sometimes falls asleep on his!) Get him to walk slightly more each day.

My dd tends to be sedentary and it has taken a long time but now she walks everywhere without complaining, or roller skates for preference. She is nearly 6. She also has a huge appetite but luckily has a taste for very healthy food (doesn't like cake, happy with frozen peas as a snack) so has never been overweight.

However if your ds is neither a huge eater or a lazybones like my dd, then maybe he is just gearing up for a growth spurt. If the podginess is a recent thing then that's probably most likely.

Original poster
coldtits · 01/04/2010 14:37

I've just put his details into the NHS thing, and he's apparently a healthy weight, bordering on the large side

The first one I used was american and insistant that he was far too fat.

OP posts:
Original poster
coldtits · 01/04/2010 14:41

I don't think he eats a huge amount, but he has an older brother who eats like a horse and is built like a whippet.

Ds2 is 2.10 lbs (definite, not naked though) and is definintely 100 cms tall.

I think because I rounded down to 3 ft 3, instead of 3 ft 3.3 inches, it made a big difference.

OP posts:
NoahAndTheWhale · 01/04/2010 14:43

I'm not sure how much my DD (4.6) weighs but I think a few pounds more than your DS2. She is a bit taller though. I think I am used to the skinniness of DS and can't help but compare to that so I think actually she is probably fine, just looks "fatter" than DS.

Bleatblurt · 01/04/2010 14:45

Is your DS maybe due a growth spurt? My DS1 (5) always looks a little more heavy just before he suddenly grows in lenght a lot! It's like he stores the extra fat for the energy for the spurt!

NoahAndTheWhale · 01/04/2010 14:48

Thinking about it, DD has suddenly had a growth spurt - her school dress was below the knee and now it is above it. Maybe she was getting the energy ready for it or something like that.

ibangthedrums · 01/04/2010 19:46

My DS1 is 3.5 and is on 91st centile for height and weight and I assumed one balanced out the other IYSWIM.

The HV said he was overweight almost obese. He actually stil wears some age 2-3 jeans as he has short legs despite his height and the age 3-4 are still too big at the waist. He looks totally in proportion (I think)and eats a healthy balanced diet.

I wonder if the national obession with childhood obesity, whilst not being a bad thing in itself, can lead parents to take action when the children are actually totally healthy. This could then cause food "issues" in later life

Wallace · 01/04/2010 19:57

My ds2 was measured at 3.5 and was 100cm and 21kg (46lbs).

This puts him in the severly obese catagory. However he really isn't fat. He is a very active boy.

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