Childhood Obesity

[jenn]

I don't have any children that are overweight, but have had several that are underweight. I have one right now that eats fine here, but refuses milk and any food other than crackers at home She is so small and thin that she looks really ill. Parents do not seem concerned.

You can't base everything off of weight. My 4 year old daughter (5 in July) weighs 71 pounds. That is heavy for a 4 year old, but she is 4 foot 4 inches tall. Her BMI is OK. She is just a tall, solid kid, and always has been. She was 2 weeks early and 9 and a half pounds. She even did a hormone test to see if she was getting too much growth hormone causing her to grow so quickly, but everything came back fine.

[Starburst]

My baby is going to be 6 soon and she weighs 72 pounds. She also has a large frame. My baby has sleep apnea and thus she has less energy. Her metabolism is also slower than most little girls her age. Her weight makes her sleep apnea worse and vice versa.

We are working hard to change things.

Sometime children can be overweight due to medication. Asthma medication have steroids in it. My boyfriend's mom said that my bf was really thin as a kid but he started developing asthma around middle school and he ballooned up shortly after using medication to manage it. My aunt gained lots of weight after taking prednisone for COPD and I took the same medication as an infant for my Asthma; my mom said that was when I started getting chunky). The weird thing is that mostly you hear that "obesity causes asthma" but I was diagnosed at one month old (born a normal weight- 7lbs, little chance I could have gained too much weight fast after that) and there are some kids who are naturally thin and get asthma. Also long time use of medications in childhood can change your metabolism and even change your appetite. Now I know in many cases of children that is not the case, a big factor is usually junk food and lack of exercise but there are a few time when it comes down to genetics (such as frame, body shape, or genes) and metabolism or illness of the individual.

[countrymom]

I think what the op is talking about is kids who have huge bellys and cellulite and extra chins and just eating junk. 2 of my own kids are built really big, no fat on them but they an kick my butt any day. Both girls are athletic and odd can easily swim 30 laps in a pool (she's testing for life guarding) mdd has belly fat, not anything bad but she is built like gma, skinny legs but round belly.

my niece struggles in running but my sister is always feeding her, I mean this girl drinks so much milk in one day its awful. She just runs a little bit and she starts to sweat so bad you would think she took a shower. She has a belly on her too.

[canadiancare]

You know that kid when you see him go down the slide at the park and his legs are wedged in tight? That is the kid I am talking about.

I am a tiny framed person. My wedding ring is a size 4. Every extra pound shows.