I am trying to talk to people about this but no one seems to want to listen! My 7 year old daughter is 136 cm tall and 42 kilos - which translates as clinically obese, and I had the government letter a couple of years ago telling me so, along with a leaflet about how to keep her healthy. Well I do all of it. We eat well, and she is really really active. Does some form of sport once a day, if not twice and she rarely sits still - she's constantly doing gym on the sofa rather than sitting on it! She has a big appetite and I have to restrict how much she eats (although all the leaflets say not to, but if I didn't she would clear an adult sized portion every mealtime, no problem). I went to the doctor today (about something else, but booked a double appointment so I could ask about nutritional advice) and the doctor basically said that if I am feeding her correctly and she is active then it's fine and there was no need to be referred to a dietician. But she is overweight. And childhood obesity seems to be the media's new horror story, so I am constantly reminded that I should be doing something about it. The only thing I am hoping might help now is that she is joining the swimming club in September which will means she will swim for an hour 2 or 3 times a week. I don't know what else I can do. She was 10lb 1oz when she was born, she's always been 98th centile in size and my husband and his whole family are overweight, so it is pretty certain that there's a genetic element to it.
Can anyone talk to me about dealing with being overweight your whole life? I feel terribly sorry for her if she's going to have to battle it for ever. If I can't get help from an NHS dietician, who could give me advice? I thought about keeping a food diary, and talked about it with both children along the lines of doing a project, and they were keen to do it - but I'd need advice from someone about it afterwards and I'm not sure who. Any help or life stories appreciated!