Weight concerns | Imamother

tzatza ↓

Mon, Sep 08 2008, 9:11 pm

DS is 7 y.o. He was always tall and slim. All of a sudden he started gaining weight in his tummy mostly over this summer. I am at loss at what happened. He loves bread, but we limit it at home and serve whole wheat varieties. He drinks mostly plain water and loves vegetables. I don't know what to do. I am worried because it not healthy.

shnitzel

Mon, Sep 08 2008, 11:21 pm

Theres a good chance he is about to have a growth spurt. Right before kids grow they often gain weight and start to look pudgy and then shoot up. I wouldn't restrict his food intake (of course with limits on nash). speak to your pediatritian if you are really worried and something seems off.

↑ tzatza ↓

Tue, Sep 09 2008, 1:05 pm

Growth spurt at 7? He is my first, so I just don't know much about it. I know he has a growing body and all, I am just worried that gaining weight around the belly is not goood for the heart. I wil definitely speak to the ped.

Tefila

Tue, Sep 09 2008, 7:38 pm

Quote:

am just worried that gaining weight around the belly is not goood for the heart.

Listen for that to be truly a concern he would have to be fifty pounds or more.plus Not have any excercise.
Pudge a bit of it in a boy is not a bad thing you don't want a tall lanky kid eigther. Confused

↑ tzatza

Wed, Sep 10 2008, 7:55 pm

Actually, I am not sure he gets enough physical activity. I don't think yeshivas are too into physical education, if any. I am trying to find any sports activity to involve him into in the Boro Park/Bensonhurst area. Any ideas?TIA

morahaviva

Wed, Sep 10 2008, 9:22 pm

The summer ds learned to read he gained a whopping 12 lbs!! From one school year to the next he went from a size 5 pants to a 10 husky! BUT - he really got into sports and now 2 years later he is still wearing the same size 10 husky pants.... not slim, but he stayed the same and kept growing!

dveikus

Thu, Sep 11 2008, 2:59 pm

My son is 7 and he also gained weight in his tummy over the summer. I've noticed that since starting school he's lost some. Maybe he was snacking too much being home all day. I don't think it's an issue - I've noticed my kids getting pudgier and then skinnier all the time, but my children are always in their healthy weight range, so I don't worry when I see a temporary weight gain. It all evens out over time.

Many times it only becomes an issue if the parents make it an issue, so we're careful never to mention weight to the kids. When it comes to teaching healthy eating habits, we don't tell them that certain foods make them fat, but rather, if they eat too much of it, they might not grow right - too much in some ways, not enough in others. (I.e., too wide and not enough tall, but I don't tell them that!)

If your son continues to gain over time to the point where he's no longer in a healthy weight range (google children's growth calculator), then you might want to try adjusting his snacks, encouraging more activity, adjusting how you cook and serve, etc. But for now I think you're fine. Smile