So is 'puppy fat' actually real and how do you tell if it is 'puppy fat' or your child is actually overweight?

[Theromanempire]

DS1 is 11 (Year 7) and has always been really skinny. Since last summer, he has noticeably put weight on, particularly around his tummy/torso and has developed a bit of a double chin aswell.

Once he started high school, I thought it would sort itself out as he is now walking 2 miles a day, plays football 3 x a week plus a 2-hour PE lesson and other after-school sports that he sometimes does. Unfortunately it is not improving - first day back to school after Christmas, he couldn't do his trousers up .

I assume it is a case of growing outwards before growing upwards and have tried to be really low key about it and I have made sure I haven't mentioned it although DH did make a comment about it last night to his face but I think kids at school have been making comments to him as he suddenly seems to be limiting the amount of junk food he is eating (whereas he would previously walk over hot coals for sweets/cakes/chocolate) and I have noticed a comment from one of his 'friends' on instagram about his double chin.

So is it puppy fat and if so, how long do they pad out before any growth spurt? It has been 6 months now...

Or am I burying my head in the sand and actually I need to take action about his diet and exercise (although I think he does more than enough of this).

So are you saying that it is a myth that teenagers/preteens put on weight before a growth spurt happens? I can't find any scientific evidence about it but plenty of anecdotal evidence

Sorry but it’s rubbish. The problem is children run around less after transfer to secondary and usually have access to more (and worse) food.

My DS (13) is very tall. He has always chubbed up a bit just before a growth spurt. He's the same height as me at the moment and is looking a bit pudgy all of a sudden... I'm doomed to be the shorty in tye house,aren't I?

If he generally eats a lot of sugary things then it is fat. Cutting down on junk food isn’t going to do him any harm. Bullying from peers if he is chubby may do him harm. Kids can be very spiteful.

My ds 11 (y6) is exactly the same - always been skinny and now has really started to fill out tummy face and shoulders. He is reasonably active, playing rugby 2 or 3 times a week and we go swimming once a week and try to walk every day as well as school PE but it's harder to police what he eats now - although he is aware of healthy eating guidelines and is also aware that he's getting bigger. Not sure what to suggest - I was hoping he'd grow upwards but I'm thinking he might have already done that

The clue is in the name. He's not a puppy or at a "puppy" age like baby/toddler.

So it's not puppy fat.

I had puppy fat at 10/11. By the time l was 12, l was long and thin. Ds had puppy fat at 11/12. Then he grew and grew and grew. He's now 6ft 5 and skinny. Dsd also had puppy fat at 11/12. He grew and lost all his too.

What l find more concerning is an 11 year old being in Instagram! My dd is 11, and no way would l let her use it!

My DD used to grow out then up.

"So are you saying that it is a myth that teenagers/preteens put on weight before a growth spurt happens?"

Pretty much. There is no biological need to put on weight first. And for many/most it simply doesn't happen. But growth rate can get a bit out of step for some, so it's within normal to have a weight spurt. But it would resolve spontaneously in enfew weeks.

Your DS's weight issues have been rather longer duration. Six months is nit puppy fat and it's got to the stage where his friends are commenting. He wants to change this. And it is a case of keeping his weight level (not increasing) as his height catches up,

Yes, you do need to take action, and tactfully support his initiative to eat more healthily. Stop buying things he could snack on. Talk to him about what he wants to eat. Go for plenty of variety, lots of fruit/veg (aim for 7 a day) and whole grains.

Don't make a big deal about it, and bill it as healthy/sporty eating nit a diet.

Anecdotal, but I think it exists. I was a very skinny child. Between about 9 and 11 I was a bit chubby. No particular changes to diet or activity. Once I hit puberty I slimmed back down again naturally and have always been a slim adult.

I was a skinny, short kid who got a bit chubby around 11-13. I stayed chubby and am still short.

I ate too much and didn't move enough.

There's also evidence that being overweight accelerates puberty and reduces the overall height a child reaches.

driggle thanks for those links.

So general consensus is that it is fat...not the body preparing for a growth spurt 😕

So time to get my head out of the sand and tackle it somehow.

I’ve noticed this with DS1 since September - he’s 10, nearly 11 (y6) and I had a word with exP last week (he lives there) to say I think he’s eating too much junk that he’s acquiring when they aren’t paying attention! He’s definitely had a big height spurt too but I know he eats shit. He’s autistic so it’s difficult to monitor sometimes but as a PP said, there’s no need to reduce weight per se - he will grow into it - but I would work hard to keep it stable as he grows.

I think the only action you need to take is check his BMI range to see if he is healthy although I'm unsure if BMI charts extend to paediatrics. The trouser thing could just be due to needing a new pair and not really indicative of being overweight. Once you know that information, then you can make a decision about what to do next.

I haven't heard about studies regarding puppy fat.

I have heard about evidence that body weight (and other factors, though not necessarily age) are related to onset of puberty. In that respect, i agree with a previous post.

He sounds like he gets adequate exercise.

My brother had puppy fat around the ages of 9-10. He lost it as a teenager. His weight fluctuated with lifestyle. He would gain weight when revising for exams and therefore largely sedentary well into his thirties. And then shifting the weight when exercising. He's now early 40s and lean. He loses and puts weight on quickly.

The positive thing about having some fat is your son has reserves if he should get ill.

The teasing is another aspect to manage. I would encourage father to be positive in his language/attitude for the sake of your child's self-esteem.

Regarding comments from his friends- well some are more tactful than others. If their messages are subliminally changing his attitude towards healthier food then it's good?

My slender children did "fill out" a bit before growth spurts. But this was never to the point of a real Tum and certainly not a double chin! Sorry.
The worst we had was when one of my DDs trousers became too "snug".
But I would look at his diet and try to introduce more healthy food and snacks. Maybe have something like a Baked potato or soup ready for when he gets in from school if he is really hungry then. Also see if he really is getting more exercise? He may walk a bit further but is he playing less physical games?

I know this is from January, but guess still relevant.

Another 'anecdote' here.

ds grew out considerably at 12 - 13. Indeed I came across a picture of him at that age quite recently and it was quite striking. However, on around about his 15th birthday, he started a massive growth spurt where he just 'grew in to his weight'. He's over 6 foot now and very well proportioned. He'd never carried weight before puberty and doesn't as an adult. He was very active (ADHD + long walk to and from school + football + swimming regularly + other outdoors stuff), but just kept growing outwards for about 2 years.

I can only say that despite the same amount of exercise and diet DD definitely gained a bit, especially around her hips and bust when she was 9.5/10 (size of an 11-12 year old though).

Then over this Spring/Summer she not only had a huge growth spur, she also changed her shape considerably. She had shorts we bought 2 years ago and they still fit around the waist (are Daisy Duke's though now). She is now just 11 and wears 13-14/14-15 depending on brand.

We had to measure her for an activity and she is bang in line with where she is suppose to be.

I would always check diet and I agree that since she started secondary she missed out on physical activity so we are tackling this now out of school. But in my opinion there is a bit of truth, maybe more for girls.

Girls pack on a bit of weight just before puberty that they then lose. Do boys?

My son always grows out before up, but usually only lasts 2-3 weeks. At 6 months, I would sit down and have a chat with him.

I've had a weight problem all my life. My mum handled it really badly. She continued to give me bad unhealthy food, and never once spoke to me directly. I was referred at 5yr old to dieticians and DM ignored all advice.

Have a chat with him, from the perspective of a mum wanting to do the right thing for him. Ask him how you can support him? What he'd like from you. Find out what is being said/posted online and how he feels. It's a tough conversation and you can go as gentle with him as he needs. I think the key is to be there to support whatever he thinks he needs.