Overweight 4 year old

[Thatbloodycat16]

Who would I need to see regarding my overweight 4 year old? Not just a bit oveerweight but very visibly so?

They haven’t started school yet due to time of their birth so I know we could technically still see our health visitor. We’ve done lots to try to help, more exercise, modifying portions etc but nothing seems to be working and they seem to be getting bigger. As their mum my heart breaks and I want it sorted or on the way to being sorted by the time they start reception class in September.

Thanks

Make a GP appointment and in the run up to it keep a food diary so you can show that it isn’t portion sizes that are the issue

I’ve been doing that

Have you thought about a visit to the GP?

Would they be able to help? The health visitors have always commented on my child’s weight right from when they were about a year old but havent offered any help so wondered whether a GP would?

Yes, they'd be able to offer support. If he or she is still gaining weight then the problem usually lies in what's being eaten. It's extremely rare for a child of 4 to gain weight due to an underlying condition.

Can you give an example of a day's typical intake of food? And portion sizes? For example "A saucer sized portion of cereal" or whatever.

I’d weigh their cereal so she has 30g of that (usually mini weetabix or rice crispies) with 100ml of milk. Lunch is usually a sandwich with one slice of wholemeal bread with ham and carrot and cucumber sticks. Dinner is usually whatever I cook. 2 tablespoons of rice or pasta with a meat dish such as a home cooked meal like bolognese or chilli (usually around 3 tablespoons) plus a side such as some bread or some salad. They drink squash or water and then have snacks such as fruit, cheese sticks, bread sticks etc. Ice cream once or twice a week. They are at preschool 3 days a week whilst I work and they’ve said they have 2nds there. We walk about 5 miles a day on average to collect an older sibling from school.

Has your child been screened by your GP because some diseases can cause weight gain?

Absolutely go to your GP. There's no way a 4 year old could be even slightly overweight with the diet you provide. There could be an underlying condition.
However I find it so strange you talk about weighing your child's food like that? There's really no need.

Is it possible that occasional snacks are actually more than that if you really think about it? Cheese is very high calorie, so having, say, two sets of cheese sticks daily alongside a couple of cups of squash plus bread with pasta/rice (why does she need bread and pasta at the same time?) could actually add up to quite a lot. Is she grazing through the day?

It's not odd at all to weigh the food. It's just what you do if you want to be sure of portion size.
Yes to the GP as they might be able to refer you to help. My DS2 is obese- a lot older than your DC- after Year 6 weigh-in at school we were referred to a fabulous programme with an NHS dietitian and a council sports leader. There was exercise ( really fun), food activities and lots of advice for parents on healthy lifestyle. I didn't learn much new ... but... it really helped me focus and be motivated and disciplined for my child. The aim was NOT to calorie count or lose weight - just to maintain it over time whilst they grow taller. (Tho he did lose 4lbs in 7 weeks.)
There may be something more suited for your DC's age which the GP can refer you to, as well as possibly testing for underlying conditions. The sample diet sounds fine but little snacks here and there can add up and put a little person over their necessary calorie intake quite easily.

Thank you all

To the PP who asked about weighing food, it’s about portion control.

She recently ate larger potions hence but still good food but more snacks. Even though we’ve curbed it massively it’s not getting better and she’s still getting bigger.

And yes I guess that’s an option, the snacks could be too much x

I get the premise for weighing food. But my broader point is that this should be unnecessary for a 4 year old.
If a 4 year old is overweight due to eating too much it is really really unlikely to be due to eating too much healthy food.
Almost inevitably, it has to be due to unhealthy patterns of eating.

In your case OP, you have described a really healthy pattern of eating. And yet your child is gaining weight. This is absolutely a matter to bring to your GP.

It just can't be about 'oh maybe they are eating too much cheese'. Talk to the GP, rule out any health conditions and go from there. Good luck 💐