My 9 year old daughter gained 9lbs in the past six months

[Anonymous]

yet she eats healthy and takes dance class 4 nights a week. I've noticed the weight gain, but she had a doctor's appointment today, and this is how I found out. Her BMI is 87th percentile, so she is technically overweight. I am beating myself up over having let her gain this much weight, but the truth is, she really doesn't eat badly at all. I don't keep chips or sweets in the house, we don't do juice, rarely eat fast food and when we do always get the fruit cup instead of fries. No one in our family is overweight. I just don't understand how this happened.

[Anonymous]

Was her doctor concerned? Most girls put on a little weight around that age because puberty is coming! fun, fun.. Boys tend to do so a year or two later.

[Anonymous]

What all does she eat/drink on a typical day, OP?

[Anonymous]

I know that weight gain can be normal at this age, so I wouldn't freak out. That said, what is she eating for lunch at school? I know of parents who learn their child is buying pizza and ice cream every day at lunch.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:What all does she eat/drink on a typical day, OP?

a typical breakfast is either oatmeal, or cheerios, piece of fruit & skim milk
Lunch - I always pack is a sandwich, granola bar (less than 140 calories) flavored water, greek yogurt,
dinner varies but relatively healthy
we almost never have deserts and don't keep chips or any sweets in the house.

[Anonymous]

I always say they grow up and out. And the cycle repeats. I wouldn't be concerned.

[Anonymous]

Was her BMI healthy before the weight gain? She's probably about to have a growth spurt...out and up like the PP said.

[Anonymous]

No big deal. I don't even understand why you are freaking out.

[Anonymous]

Are you sure she's not eating at school? Charts show that girls that age usually need about 1700 calories a day to maintain weight. If she's dancing a lot (4 nights a week seems like she's competitive), she probably needs at least 2,000. What you are showing is...

Oatmeal + skim milk + fruit = approx. 300 calories
Sandwich + granola bar + yogurt = approximately 400 calories (These estimations are generous)

So .. basically, that's 700 calories. I can't imagine dinner that you say is healthy is over 1,000 calories, plus that isn't including the activity she's getting.

Bottom line, either something is up with what you say you give her, or she's eating elsewhere. Let this be a tale of caution... I was your daughter. At around 9, I got chubby. My Mom noticed and instead of just rolling with it, she monitored everything that went into my mouth. No chips or sweets either (heaven forbid). By the time I was 13, she enrolled me in weight watchers. I lost 20 pounds (also got my period and shot up a few inches) and have had an incredibly awful time with food, weight, and my body image and self worth for the last 20 years. Therapy is just now starting to make a difference in how I view myself (I'm a size 6, so fairly average but always view myself as a COW). PLEASE, I'm begging you - roll with it. Let the doctor's figure it out if it continues to happen with no apparent cause. She will grow out of it. What she will never grow out of is how you make her feel, if you handle it wrong. And bring some chips and sweets into the house occasionally. Moderation is key. Good luck.

[Anonymous]

Please don't do this to her. If she is eating well and exercising just let nature take it's course. She is going to grow up and out several times in the next few years. She could also be developing more muscle mass at this age - especially if she is dancing rigorously. Just continue help her develop good lifetime habits and eating choices and don't push your body image concerns ("I don't understand how this happened") onto her.

[Anonymous]

Has she grown taller? DD has gained weight, but as the doctor put it, "She's thin, so it's all up."

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:yet she eats healthy and takes dance class 4 nights a week. I've noticed the weight gain, but she had a doctor's appointment today, and this is how I found out. Her BMI is 87th percentile, so she is technically overweight. I am beating myself up over having let her gain this much weight, but the truth is, she really doesn't eat badly at all. I don't keep chips or sweets in the house, we don't do juice, rarely eat fast food and when we do always get the fruit cup instead of fries. No one in our family is overweight. I just don't understand how this happened.

So what is it that you plan on doing? She is active at least 4 times a week, and you say she doesn't eat badly. What do you plan on telling your 9 year old daughter?

I will ask you how often she gets some sort of treat/dessert/junk food. The kids that NEVER get stuff like this at home are the kids that shove food down their throats when their mothers aren't looking.

[Anonymous]

I agree that many kids gain weight right before puberty sets in.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Please don't do this to her. If she is eating well and exercising just let nature take it's course. She is going to grow up and out several times in the next few years. She could also be developing more muscle mass at this age - especially if she is dancing rigorously. Just continue help her develop good lifetime habits and eating choices and don't push your body image concerns ("I don't understand how this happened") onto her.

+1000

[Anonymous]

i think it could also be the weather. my guess is my resting metabolism goes down in cold winter days. but i have no proof of that.