What to do about 9-yo overeating?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:When she asks for more, give her raw veggies to munch on. The sound will signal to her brain that she's eating, the munching motion will make her mouth feel like she's eating, and she'll get more food in her belly in case her body truly IS hungry.

But don't give more starches.

Stupid is as stupid does. Calories are calories.

Starches or carbs don't cause weight gain. Over consumption of calories does.

You don't seem to understand much about what the body does. Yes, calories are calories. And the important net is that you try to use the same calories as you consume. That's a basic principle. But if you don't burn the same calories as you consume, it matters a great deal what type of calories went into the excess.

Carbohydrates are great for energy. You body basically converts starches (complex sugars) into basic sugars and uses that to create energy for whatever you do, from autonomous functions to athletics, to calorie burning work (like digging ditches or moving furniture). If your body has excess sugar in the system that isn't being used, like if you are doing something sedentary, then it converts the glucose to glycogen. If you consume more and it has more glucose, then it burns that. If your body has excess glycogen and doesn't seem to be using it, it will convert glycogen to fat. If your body consumes all of the glucose that it has available and you don't eat more, it will convert glycogen back to glucose. If it doesn't have glycogen, it will convert fat back to glycogen then back to glucose. Sounds simple and sounds like its just the same process in reverse. The truth though is that it is much easier for your body to convert glucose->glycogen->fat. It takes a lot of work to make your body do the reverse process, so it is much easier to put on weight than take it off.

Conversely, calories from proteins break down into amino acids. Your body doesn't store excess amino acids and when there are more amino acids than needed, the excess go to the liver to be excreted.

Also, white the consumption of adequate fiber is important, you have to be cautious about too much fiber. If you eat too much of fiber rich foods, it can ultimately be detrimental as the fiber will bind to certain vitamins and minerals and your body will expel more of those. People with excessively high fiber consumption often end up with vitamin and mineral deficiencies.

So, at a very elementary level, your statement is true, but for people who are consuming more than they are burning, your statement is a false guideline on how to be cautious.

[Anonymous]

OP,

Does your child snack before dinner? I would recommend that you start trying to get your child to snack on fruits and veggies before meals. Also have her drinking more water before meals. Have a limit on the higher calorie and starch components (only 2 servings of starches per meal, or only 2 servings of high fat items like casserole, gravies, fried foods, etc). Make extra veggies and proteins and allow extra servings of those.

Basically, you want to steer her towards lower consumption of fats and carbohydrates and higher consumption of proteins, vegetables and fruit. Make this policy for everyone so it's a family rule. I tend to do bargaining for my younger kids. I give them certain portions of things and if they want more of something that is higher in carb or fat, they have to eat another portion of protein or vegetables first. I'll keep doing 1:1 portions of what I want them to eat for what they want to eat. But we also portion ourselves as parents to do the same. We just use bigger portion sizes for the foods.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:OP,

Does your child snack before dinner? I would recommend that you start trying to get your child to snack on fruits and veggies before meals. Also have her drinking more water before meals. Have a limit on the higher calorie and starch components (only 2 servings of starches per meal, or only 2 servings of high fat items like casserole, gravies, fried foods, etc). Make extra veggies and proteins and allow extra servings of those.

Basically, you want to steer her towards lower consumption of fats and carbohydrates and higher consumption of proteins, vegetables and fruit. Make this policy for everyone so it's a family rule. I tend to do bargaining for my younger kids. I give them certain portions of things and if they want more of something that is higher in carb or fat, they have to eat another portion of protein or vegetables first. I'll keep doing 1:1 portions of what I want them to eat for what they want to eat. But we also portion ourselves as parents to do the same. We just use bigger portion sizes for the foods.

vegetables and fruit are carbohydrates. You mean grains and refined carbohydrates. Also I would add there is nothing wrong with fats. The low fat diet is what started this whole obesity epidemic because instead of fats people ate more carbohydrates (sugars). There is nothing wrong with adding an avocado to your diet, which is high in monounsaturated fat.

[Anonymous]

My son is the same way. I did not feel right denying him food, but his weight got worse. So now we have to limit what he eats (allowing fruits and veggies if hungry) and remind him to drink water. it sucks.

[Anonymous]

I doubt it's that she's hungry. Do other people at the table have seconds too? Tell her you're saving them for leftovers for the next night. I will specifically put half the food away before I serve it because I know people will come around trying to eat the leftovers.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I doubt it's that she's hungry. Do other people at the table have seconds too? Tell her you're saving them for leftovers for the next night. I will specifically put half the food away before I serve it because I know people will come around trying to eat the leftovers.

Trust me that she might actually be hungry! Some people can't fill up as easily as others even if they eat healthy foods. I eat very healthfully and sometimes even a high protein/balanced meal with eggs and some coconut oil and a lot of vegetables will not fill me up even if I eat slowly and drink a lot of water. It's frustrating. Please be patient with your dd, op! Be active with her and don't criticize her body or choices. Remove junk from the house but keep plenty of easy to access fruits and vegetables around.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I subsist on bagels, muffins and breads and am pretty thin (115 lbs, 5'6). However, I eat mostly whole grain bagels, mostly low-sugar (muffins), and almost never white bread. So no, starches and carbs don't NECESSARILY cause weight gain.

OP, if I were you I would advocate portion control, and I *would* cut out all junk, which does make one's glucose spike and cause hunger. Also, if she is using food as entertainment, you may consider talking to her about the role of food, and that it's great to enjoy it, but not to overindulge, etc. It's a really fine line with girls. Good luck!

Or, you are genetically disposed to be thin. You are extremely thin, in fact.

Right, genetics does definitely play a role, but I have been heavier in the past (I certainly did gain the "freshman 15," etc.) at times when I was eating junk mindlessly. My point was that there's no silver bullet and that people gain weight for different reasons. If I were worried about my kid's weight, the first thing to go from the house wold be all junk food. Then I would encourage the kid to think about what they are eating. I wouldn't limit their food per se, but I would limit unhealthy food.