My 51 pound three-year-old girl is not overweight, just BIG

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:There is no such thing as just a big child. Your child is overweight. Fix it now or it will continue to get worse.

But her child is 42 inches. That is VERY tall. My 7-year old DD is 42 inches and weighs 45 lbs and is SUPER skinny and tall for her age. So if OP's DD is really 42 in and weighs 51 lbs at 3, then I doubt she's overweight. The real question is why she is so tall. OP -- are you and DH very tall?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Your kid's BMI is in the 99th percentile rank, which is classified as obese. They have done studies that show most parents if overweight kids don't think their kids are overweight. You really should get a referral to a nutritionist.

This. OP use the calculator on webmd and read the results. They aren't great and explain your doctors concern. http://www.webmd.com/parenting/raising-fit-kids/weight/bmi/bmi-calculator

My DS has been 99th percentile for height and weight since his three month checkup. He will be turning 3 in a month and is 42 inches and about 39 lbs. He is a big kid, no question. I used this calculator and his BMI is 15.5 or 31st percentile. His ped has never commented about his weight (or height or head circumference for that matter, as it is 99th percentile, too) other than to say it is proportional.

My point to the OP is to not look at the percentile the ped gave you, but rather use this calculator to get a percentile that assesses whether your child is BIG or obese. My son is in the same percentile for height and weight as your DD, but there is a huge difference in their weight and the potential impact for long-term health risks for your daughter.

[Anonymous]

I have a kid who has been at 97/98/99% in height and weight since birth, too. But...51 pounds at 42 inches is not "just big."
At 3 year old appt mine was 41.25 inches and 37 pounds. Putting us at 97/96% for height and weight, respectively, on the CDC scale. At the 4 year old appt it was 44.5 inches and 45 pounds, still 97/96%.

Even then, I keep an eye on my kids weight (no intervention required-I am just mindful of it)because one day upward growth will stop naturally...outward growth has to be managed.

So I know what a "big kid" looks like.

Your kid is overweight. By more than a few pounds. Listen to your doctor.

[Anonymous]

Sorry. My 37 pounds above should have been 39. Mistyped that.

[Anonymous]

You're right, this is not believable without pictures. I've seen chunky little girls and your kid sounds like one. 51 lbs is crazy for a 3 year old.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:There is no such thing as just a big child. Your child is overweight. Fix it now or it will continue to get worse.

But her child is 42 inches. That is VERY tall. My 7-year old DD is 42 inches and weighs 45 lbs and is SUPER skinny and tall for her age. So if OP's DD is really 42 in and weighs 51 lbs at 3, then I doubt she's overweight. The real question is why she is so tall. OP -- are you and DH very tall?

Really? The height is what worries you? Sheesh.

Ps: your 7 year old is NOT tall for her age.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:You're right, this is not believable without pictures. I've seen chunky little girls and your kid sounds like one. 51 lbs is crazy for a 3 year old.

No. It's crazy for a kid that height at the age.

People have to remember that height is a key factor. Not just age.

[Anonymous]

OP. I would expect the ped to have concerns about your kid, just like our ped had for ours when our son fell off the chart at the other end.

There are many reasons a kid can be like yours and healthy. There are also many reasons why you should be concerned.

As for different charts for different groups... why bother? The charts are just to give a guid to health, one of many diagnostic tools.

[Anonymous]

Is she a healthy eater, OP??what does she drink? Does she run around for several hours a day?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:There is no such thing as just a big child. Your child is overweight. Fix it now or it will continue to get worse.

But her child is 42 inches. That is VERY tall. My 7-year old DD is 42 inches and weighs 45 lbs and is SUPER skinny and tall for her age. So if OP's DD is really 42 in and weighs 51 lbs at 3, then I doubt she's overweight. The real question is why she is so tall. OP -- are you and DH very tall?

Really? The height is what worries you? Sheesh.

Ps: your 7 year old is NOT tall for her age.

At 7 year of age, my DS is 53 inches and 52 lb. He looks average for kids in his class. My other child is 5 years old and is 48 inches. He is tiny compared to his classmates. That said, if your DD is 7 years old and is 42 inches, she is NOT tall. As a matter of fact, she is quite short.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:There is no such thing as just a big child. Your child is overweight. Fix it now or it will continue to get worse.

But her child is 42 inches. That is VERY tall. My 7-year old DD is 42 inches and weighs 45 lbs and is SUPER skinny and tall for her age. So if OP's DD is really 42 in and weighs 51 lbs at 3, then I doubt she's overweight. The real question is why she is so tall. OP -- are you and DH very tall?

My three year old daughter is 41 inches and 38 pounds. She's tall and sturdy, like her father and I. Her weight and height are also proportional to each other. OP, I think what your doctor may be reacting to is that while 42 inches is quite tall, weighing 51 pounds is still a lot for that height.

That being said, I appreciate your wanting to defend your daughter. My mom repeatedly told me all through my childhood that I wasn't fat, just big (in response to other kids teasing me). Although I didn't find her words helpful, I know she was trying to make me feel better. As an adult, I'm proud as hell of my strength and my build has served me well in various sports--I was a nationally competitive rower for years. I'd focus on making sure your daughter eats healthfully and gets plenty of activity. The latter is just good for everyone, but I think especially for girls/women who tend towards the stronger/sturdier side of the spectrum, it does amazing things for esteem in a culture in which thinness is prized.

[Anonymous]

I don't know, OP. My DD at her 3 yr appmt was a touch more than 40 inches, very tall for her age. I think her weight was 35 lbs! She is bit on the skinnier side, but not to the point that anyone has ever said anything, and really she looks pretty average weight-wise among her peers (tall though). I can't really imagine adding another 15+ pounds to her frame.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:If she eats healthy food and gets plenty of exercise...what can you do? It sounds like her natural size, especially if your DH is built like a linebacker.

+1 the focus should first be on her diet, not her size.

[Anonymous]

You can get fat getting too much healthy food.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:There is no such thing as just a big child. Your child is overweight. Fix it now or it will continue to get worse.

But her child is 42 inches. That is VERY tall. My 7-year old DD is 42 inches and weighs 45 lbs and is SUPER skinny and tall for her age. So if OP's DD is really 42 in and weighs 51 lbs at 3, then I doubt she's overweight. The real question is why she is so tall. OP -- are you and DH very tall?

+1, my almost 6 yr DD is 44" and 41 lbs. this kid is 3 yrs younger then mine.