Dr said she's fine just to alter her Diet but BMI calculator said she's 'Over Weight'!
Daughter 11, 161cm in height an weighs 72.8kgs.
Slightly panicked at 1st when I seen the number on the scales. I myself have struggled with weight issues from a young age to the point of having an eating disorder from the age of 14-17yrs. So I know I need to tread lightly, as I ain't having her go down my path!
Took her to the Dr for a check up.
Dr said she is 'normal' but on the higher side, she punched her height/weight/age into the computer an it showed where she sat on the graph.
Bloods showed Vitamin D and B12 were slightly lower then what they should've been cholesterol was double but everything else fine (diabetes thyroid iron).
She does love her food and I do try an limit the amount of take away, sweets, sugar etc she has. I cook most nights of the week an try vary our weekly meals but majority consist of Meat Vege Potato/Sweet Potato or Pasta.
She plays sport so is active but I have noticed her fitness isn't great due to what I can see is extra weight she's carrying. She complains she's always tired which most likely is due to not enough sleep (her own fault). Also not to place any blame on Genes but she does come from a family background of 'Bigger people' weight an height!
I've not taken her to a dietitian (Dr thought it may help) or anything and as Dr considers her 'normal' there was No 'healthier weight range' for us to work towards!
But, how do I get her to a healthier weight range of 48-65kgs (BMI Calculator suggestion) without pushing her to an Eating Disorder?
Any natural therapies people may've used?
Any Help appreciated, from her Concerned an Exhausted Imperfect Mum!
5 Replies
The only way to get to a healthier weight range is by adjusting your families diet. Changing what you are cooking. There is unfortunately no natural therapy that will help with weight loss unless the food intake is right.
Luckily she is 11 so you can still strongly influence what she eats without causing an eating disorder. Slow weight loss (or no weight loss but growing taller) are the ideal.
Get a referral for a dietician, they can tell you how to go about this safely and responsibly. I wished I'd saved all that money I spent in fad diets, and magic options and just went to a dietician years ago. They can help write a meal plan, based around foods your family likes to eat so it won't even look like your daughters on a diet because the entire family will be eating healthier.
Do the dietitian appt. They may have some tips for you to help her, it's all about food basically. She hasn't hit puberty yet, and some girls do store a bit of fat before it all kicks in but I would think that you wouldn't want her to get much bigger. When she hits her growth spurt she may thin out a bit. BMI isn't always a good indicator either as some people have a much higher muscle mass, which appears compact but weighs a lot. Try not to stress too much.
I'd suggest swapping out some of the starches (potatoes, sweet potatoes and pasta) for other veggies like carrots, beans, peas, or salads with spinach and stuff etc. Just a small portion of starch, same of meat then the rest of veggies.
Getting more sleep may help, lack of sleep impacts on the hormones responsible for feeling hungry and for feeling full (sleep deprived people sometimes find their eating habits disordered and it harder to lose weight).
that is a lot of weigh even for an adult at that height. you need to help her reduce her weight. do it together. eat healthy and get active more. make it fun so its not like a diet and exercise plan. the end result will make her feel so much better.
Bmis are a joke... Don't put too much emphasis on the Bmi... She will be fine! But yeah going to a nutritionist will probably do the entire family a world of good...
Addressing this issue now does NOT mean you will push her to an eating disorder! Go to the dietician, but make it for your whole family, not just your daughter. Making changes towards a healthier lifestyle for your family won't single her out - it sounds like you will all benefit, from what you've said about your family's tendency to be big. Just go out every weekend to the local park or something and kick a ball about or throw a frisbee or fly kites - just simple things that are fun and not overly strenuous. If you overdo it at first you won't want to do it again. But getting out and about in the daylight hours will improve vitamin D levels for your daughter and the rest of you - maybe it's even a good idea to get blood tests for yourself too. If your daughter's bloods are concerning now (that cholesterol sounds frightening), then imagine what your own might be and what hers will be if you don't make changes starting now? A healthier lifestyle is not a sentence for gruelling exercise regimes and restrictive diets - it's the complete opposite! Good food that isn't processed crap, family fun together, you feel great, not so tired, not so guilty, and a longer healthier life. Go to the dietician and have a chat, it can't hurt xo