10 year old starting to gain weight

[Anonymous]

My DD is tall and thin, but loves to eat. Thankfully she has her dad's metabolism. She gained weight at age 10 and started looking kinda chunky to me. Then, as if I just turned my head, she's got a longer set of legs and the very, very beginnings of breasts. Pretty sure your DD is just about to his puberty.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:She is probably getting ready to go through puberty OP, don't scare her for life with an eating disorder.

+1 weight gain is pretty common right before her puberty spurt.

[Anonymous]

I have a couple of carb lovers too, plus I'm one myself! I buy as many whole grains as possible when it comes to bread, rice, cereal, etc. I mix pasta so that it's 1/2 regular, 1/2 whole wheat. We've gotten into the habit of serving salad before the meal.

Moderation is key-no food is completely off-limits, but we don't eat out/order in much at all and I limit the snacks we have on hand. My kids like fruit, but to them it becomes special with a squirt of whipped cream, so I'll make a modified banana split with no ice cream.

[Anonymous]

I was a chubby kid from 10-18 and it negatively impacted me and caused a lot of grief. I was attractive, had a boyfriend who was popular, etc... but I really beat myself up over it and when I got to college and weight started to come off due to having less food at my disposal and having to walk more, I took that way too far and then developed an eating disorder.

Tread carefully for sure -- don't restrict foods and tie it to body image. But do encourage, mandate?, sports or physical activity and model it as well. I did NO physical activity as a kid and ate all kinds of junk. That was a bad combination and I wish my parents would have encouraged better behaviors because it would have saved me a lot of grief in several ways.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:
Go out to eat less?
You might gently explain that losing weight is not very fun, so a bit of moderation at the start prevents this.

Try to explain that it’s fine to eat pizza, but to eat slower and/or stop at 4 slices instead of 5?
Try to explain that sometimes she should choose healthy snacks - popcorn or baked chips - from the vending machine. Not all the time but sometimes.

Encourage her to bring fruit to school as a snack as well sometimes.

The key is moderation, not ‘never eating carbs and junk’.

No all the research says that this kind of pressure creates more eating problems. This is terrible advice.

Read Ellen Satter.

[Anonymous]

I have two young boys, and I try to do my best to talk about the benefits of eating healthy foods like lean protein, fruits and vegis, and limiting intake of sweets and other foods that have no nutritional value. I eat a healthy diet and exercise regularly, and I stress to them that I do it to be strong and healthy and because I love it, not because I hate my body or because I’m trying to change the way I look. I try to lead by example and to model healthy behaviors for them, and I am VERY careful to do so in a positive way that does not include any messages of self-loathing. My oldest is only five, and so far, he definitely hasn’t made the connection that skinny = good and fat = bad, so I’m very glad about that. My kids are really young, but my goal is to continue educating them on the benefits of eating healthy and getting regular exercise, and leading by example. They love to help in the kitchen and I let them get involved by helping me season the salmon, crack the eggs, etc. I hope to build upon this so that by the time they are young adults, they know how to cook a wide variety of healthy meals they enjoy, so that they can do it for themselves when they are on their own. Ultimately, they will be responsible for the choices they make, and I hope that modeling healthy behaviors at home will influence their decisions going forward.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:It's likely the onset of puberty - a lot of girls get chubby in the year before they start their period.

I have a little 10 year old carb-a-holic too. Girl never met a carb she didn't love. So we have instituted some house rules to mitigate this. The rules in our house apply to everyone, she is never singled out.

- No seconds on carbs unless you have played a sport that day. Seconds are allowed on the protein or vegetables whenever.
- Dessert one day a week. We've occasional exceptions - we go out to dinner for good report cards and dessert is allowed. Vacations are an exception as well.
- If they are making their own meal, it has to include a protein.
- Screen time is limited. If it is nice outside, they are expected to be out playing or helping around the house.

You also still control what comes into the house. So focus on protein, veggies, and fruit. You also still have control over what happens at restaurants and school. She has to have access to funds to get ice cream at school, right? Our school system has a general account vs. a meal account. I only fund the meal side so my kids can't get extra snacks. If that's not an option, then she can pack her lunch. At restaurants, don't get refills on the chips. When a basket is gone, it's gone. If it's pizza, before you get out of the car, explain that 2 slices of piece is the appropriate serving. (Or if you're sharing with the family - order less so the option to have 4 - 5 slices isn't available.)

Most of all, accept and love your daughter exactly how she is. You know how painful it is to feel judge for how you look. Don't pass that on to her. Her eating choices aren't a reflection of you - it's what

her body/brain prefers at this time. Help her through this time.

Unless you played a sport that day??
Issues galore. Good luck when theyre older.

Not sure why that is triggering to you. If they exercised, they can have more carbs. If they didn't and are still hungry, they can have more protein and/or veggies. Both of which are more filling and satiate for longer periods of time.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:It's likely the onset of puberty - a lot of girls get chubby in the year before they start their period.

I have a little 10 year old carb-a-holic too. Girl never met a carb she didn't love. So we have instituted some house rules to mitigate this. The rules in our house apply to everyone, she is never singled out.

- No seconds on carbs unless you have played a sport that day. Seconds are allowed on the protein or vegetables whenever.
- Dessert one day a week. We've occasional exceptions - we go out to dinner for good report cards and dessert is allowed. Vacations are an exception as well.
- If they are making their own meal, it has to include a protein.
- Screen time is limited. If it is nice outside, they are expected to be out playing or helping around the house.

You also still control what comes into the house. So focus on protein, veggies, and fruit. You also still have control over what happens at restaurants and school. She has to have access to funds to get ice cream at school, right? Our school system has a general account vs. a meal account. I only fund the meal side so my kids can't get extra snacks. If that's not an option, then she can pack her lunch. At restaurants, don't get refills on the chips. When a basket is gone, it's gone. If it's pizza, before you get out of the car, explain that 2 slices of piece is the appropriate serving. (Or if you're sharing with the family - order less so the option to have 4 - 5 slices isn't available.)

Most of all, accept and love your daughter exactly how she is. You know how painful it is to feel judge for how you look. Don't pass that on to her. Her eating choices aren't a reflection of you - it's what

her body/brain prefers at this time. Help her through this time.

Unless you played a sport that day??
Issues galore. Good luck when theyre older.

Not sure why that is triggering to you. If they exercised, they can have more carbs. If they didn't and are still hungry, they can have more protein and/or veggies. Both of which are more filling and satiate for longer periods of time.

This is crazy-controlling. Someday your kids are going to be talking about you to their shrinks.

[Anonymous]

As others have stated, this can be normal. My now 14 yr old is still going through this because DC hasn't hit puberty yet.

The only thing I will say is that other than making sure your DD is also eating healthy that she is also exercising. We made the mistake of not pushing DC to exercise and now regret it. DC is exercising now, but it's harder now with all the weight.

[Anonymous]

Wow. I posted as a formerly chubby teen. It seems like a lot of people are neglecting the basics of weight gain/loss in favor of complicated and weird rules. Excess calories, regardless from what source, are what causes weight gain.

Whole wheat pasta has more calories than regular pasta.
3oz of salmon has more calories than a small baked potato.
A cup of 1% milk has more calories than a cup of vitamin water.

It's one thing to emphasize a good diet and dental hygiene (re: sugar) etc..., but at a certain point your children are going to want to eat chips. And they will find them.

The best habit you can teach is portion control and moderation coupled with regular physical activity. Asking a child to consider the day's sports before reaching for another piece of bread is awful. Awful.

[Anonymous]

It's genetic, OP, and her relatives have to educate themselves on not rewarding her with food, and not encouraging her with highly caloric foods. The first line of defense is fruits and veggies, as you're already doing, but others need to get on board as well.

Please work on nutrition education as well as impulse control with her - for everything. At 10, she can know everything these is to know about protein/carbs, whole grain carbs versus sugar/rapid carbs, and weighing herself, calculating her BMI, and above all, being able to visualize what a healthy portion looks like.

Model impulse control, verbalize what you're doing when you're responsibly shopping, eating, or entertaining yourself in any way. Don't be afraid she will become anorexic, unless there are anorexic relatives in your family - anorexia is a genetically inherited mental illness.

It's a LOT of work, especially in this country where more than half of adults are overweight! You can't just look out at the world and estimate you're at the healthiest size, because most people you're seeing are NOT their healthiest size! She will constantly have to make that correction in her mind.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Wow. I posted as a formerly chubby teen. It seems like a lot of people are neglecting the basics of weight gain/loss in favor of complicated and weird rules. Excess calories, regardless from what source, are what causes weight gain.

Whole wheat pasta has more calories than regular pasta.
3oz of salmon has more calories than a small baked potato.
A cup of 1% milk has more calories than a cup of vitamin water.

It's one thing to emphasize a good diet and dental hygiene (re: sugar) etc..., but at a certain point your children are going to want to eat chips. And they will find them.

The best habit you can teach is portion control and moderation coupled with regular physical activity. Asking a child to consider the day's sports before reaching for another piece of bread is awful. Awful.

I think we can all agree that poster is NUTS.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:
It's genetic, OP, and her relatives have to educate themselves on not rewarding her with food, and not encouraging her with highly caloric foods. The first line of defense is fruits and veggies, as you're already doing, but others need to get on board as well.

Please work on nutrition education as well as impulse control with her - for everything. At 10, she can know everything these is to know about protein/carbs, whole grain carbs versus sugar/rapid carbs, and weighing herself, calculating her BMI, and above all, being able to visualize what a healthy portion looks like.

Model impulse control, verbalize what you're doing when you're responsibly shopping, eating, or entertaining yourself in any way. Don't be afraid she will become anorexic, unless there are anorexic relatives in your family - anorexia is a genetically inherited mental illness.

It's a LOT of work, especially in this country where more than half of adults are overweight! You can't just look out at the world and estimate you're at the healthiest size, because most people you're seeing are NOT their healthiest size! She will constantly have to make that correction in her mind.

How do you work on impulse control? Any tips?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:It's likely the onset of puberty - a lot of girls get chubby in the year before they start their period.

I have a little 10 year old carb-a-holic too. Girl never met a carb she didn't love. So we have instituted some house rules to mitigate this. The rules in our house apply to everyone, she is never singled out.

- No seconds on carbs unless you have played a sport that day. Seconds are allowed on the protein or vegetables whenever.
- Dessert one day a week. We've occasional exceptions - we go out to dinner for good report cards and dessert is allowed. Vacations are an exception as well.
- If they are making their own meal, it has to include a protein.
- Screen time is limited. If it is nice outside, they are expected to be out playing or helping around the house.

You also still control what comes into the house. So focus on protein, veggies, and fruit. You also still have control over what happens at restaurants and school. She has to have access to funds to get ice cream at school, right? Our school system has a general account vs. a meal account. I only fund the meal side so my kids can't get extra snacks. If that's not an option, then she can pack her lunch. At restaurants, don't get refills on the chips. When a basket is gone, it's gone. If it's pizza, before you get out of the car, explain that 2 slices of piece is the appropriate serving. (Or if you're sharing with the family - order less so the option to have 4 - 5 slices isn't available.)

Most of all, accept and love your daughter exactly how she is. You know how painful it is to feel judge for how you look. Don't pass that on to her. Her eating choices aren't a reflection of you - it's what

her body/brain prefers at this time. Help her through this time.

Unless you played a sport that day??
Issues galore. Good luck when theyre older.

Not sure why that is triggering to you. If they exercised, they can have more carbs. If they didn't and are still hungry, they can have more protein and/or veggies. Both of which are more filling and satiate for longer periods of time.

This is crazy-controlling. Someday your kids are going to be talking about you to their shrinks.

No, it's helping them understand that there's a relationship between calories in and calories out. If you exercise more then you'll likely be more hungry and you can be more liberal about what you eat. If you haven't exercised, you might be hungry, but you should eat something that is more filling/satiating (protein or veggies).

[Anonymous]

I have a chubby 13 yo DD who has been through puberty and come out the other side still chubby. She loves to draw and hates sports. I am in need of suggestions.