DD getting chubby

[Falconhoof1]

I have noticed that my DD has put on quite a bit of weight recently. The reasons are obvious-she has stopped active play like cycling and playing outside in favour of sitting on her phone or PC. She also eats A LOT. I honestly don't know how she can be hungry so often- she's always getting food. I know I have to deal with this but how do I bring it up without giving her body anxiety. I would prefer to get her more active but I'm also a bit of a couch potato! She's nearly 13.

Would she join you if you proposed a cycle ride together, or some activity that didn't involve eating?
May help to lead by example.

Could you guys just go for a walk together!? Maybe have more healthier snacks along with fatty surgery foods ( you probably already do all this. Just small suggestions. Good luck! Raquet sports out the garden

It could be that she already has body anxiety and is comfort eating? I'd be more concerned with her change in behaviour than trying to get her to lose weight at the moment...

Thanks for suggestions. Yes-a bit more activity is needed (for both is us!). I don't think she's comfort eating as she shows no signs of anxiety or even noticing. Thanks for replies.

Bear in mind that as well as her lifestyle changes, women do naturally gain body fat in puberty - not saying don't encourage healthy eating and exercise, just saying keep it in perspective.

I think 'ok, now you're not doing clubs, how are you going to exercise' is fine. And going over what she knows about a balanced diet.

If she is eating a lot what is she eating? I would be tackling that before I worried about her exercise levels. Lack of exercise makes you unfit. Food makes you fat.

Maybe start a health kick as a family? Fill up the fruit bowl, quit buying snacky foods etc and claim that you're all doing a health kick together?

Maybe tell and white lie and say the dr said your BMI is high and you want to fix it?

Don't focus on your daughter in any comments xx

I would make sure that teas/ snacks are as healthy as possible.

I lost a lot of weight at that age as I went to live with my grandparents, the portion sizes were smaller and they never bought crisps/biscuits. I was also aware that they had a lot less money than my mum so I never asked for money to go out with ( which ended up being spent at McDonalds )

Thanks again for replies. Good idea to make it a family fitness thing. She eats quite healthily ie lots of veg but too much sugar so will try and reduce that. I think school dinners are a problem too as she'll get a slice of pizza and a cookie. She started high school last year. In primary she had a packed lunch which would have been less calorific that what she's having now. I'll talk to her about taking fruit instead of a cookie for lunch and snacking more healthily.

I think the answer is definitely healthy snacks, at her age she might be really hungry all the time as she is growing.

Could you do a couple of exercise classes together? I wish these had been around when I was a teenager, they are good fun and I would have started the habit early. Benefits of increasing her metabolism and fitness levels

This a a problem with many teenagers, a decrease in activity in favour of screen time together with increased calorie consumption. I have limited sugary snacks in the house and DD does activities after school for excercise. I am dreading the holidays and hours of lolling around on her phone.

I used to eat quite badly for school lunches, but my parents are well and I was active so I was skinny.

I think if you resolve the rest of the time and see how easy it is for her to lose weight, you can then decide whether school meals need to be changed x