What to do about 9-yo overeating?

[Anonymous]

My 9-year old daughter is slightly overweight and she is constantly hungry. At every meal she asks for a second full helping. Not just a little extra, more like a second helping of pasta, a second sandwich, etc. People say "she must be going through a growth spurt!" but she's not really spurting, she's just getting chubbier.

We make every effort to prepare healthy meals, we only have dessert on special occasions, we don't have juice. We keep her very active-- we walk everywhere, including to and from school everyday, and she plays three sports plus Girls on the Run.

I don't know how to handle it when she asks for more food. I don't want to give her a complex about food or her weight and I am careful to never comment on her weight, my weight, or anyone else's. I come from a family of overweight/obese people so I am sensitive to this issue but it feels wrong to restrict her eating at this age.

Any advice?

[Anonymous]

Pasta turns to sugar immediately. You are turning her into a sugar burner. That stimulates hunger. Unlike protein that turns off hunger. See a dietician asap.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Pasta turns to sugar immediately. You are turning her into a sugar burner. That stimulates hunger. Unlike protein that turns off hunger. See a dietician asap.

We eat balanced meals, I was just using pasta as a quick example. Every meal we make has protein, vegetables, and some grain. This isn't about what we are feeding her. No matter what it is, she always asks for more.

[Anonymous]

Let her eat.

[Anonymous]

Can you cook just enough food so that she doesn't have the option of more food than you believe to be necessary?

[Anonymous]

How do you know she is overweight? What is her BMI? What does her ped say?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:How do you know she is overweight? What is her BMI? What does her ped say?

Her last check up was several months ago and she was at the top of the recommended weight for her height, which is why I said "slightly" overweight. But the constant eating is a relatively new thing and she's definitely heavier now.

[Anonymous]

Let her eat. As long as she isn't eating junk.

Add whole grains and fruits and vegetables to add fiber. Try starting a meal with a soup or salad to help her feel full.

[Anonymous]

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.

[Anonymous]

Is she almost 10? Maybe she IS going through a growth spurt, chunking up before puberty? I would say limit to two helpings on occasion, and otherwise it sounds like you are doing is exactly what you should be (healthy food, exercise, not mentioning weight).

Are you going light on carbs?? If so, that could be why her hunger isn't satiated?

[Anonymous]

OP, how is her level of exercise? And, how much water and what other beverages does she drink?

--- A registered dietitian/ nutritionist

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:OP, how is her level of exercise? And, how much water and what other beverages does she drink?

--- A registered dietitian/ nutritionist

She walks 5 blocks to and from school every day, has daily recess, plays sports 3 days/week and does Girls on the Run 2 days/week.

She drinks a pretty good amount of water. She occasionally has 2% milk and drinks tea (unsweetened) and sometimes has lemonade on weekends. Water is her main beverage.

[Anonymous]

I would guess she might struggle with carbs
I would give her full fat dairy, lean meats and fruits and vegetables
For some people that tend to pack on weight this young don't tolerate too many carbs
I would do more eggs for breakfast and limit starchy carbs
Not sayingg go low carb but go high protein for a couple weeks and see how her hunger level is
Not diet food. Use veggies with thick dips, berry smoothies, trail mix with nuts and raisins.
Even pepperoni and cheese etc
I used to be overweight. I eat a lot now but I find limiting carbs makes me feel 10x better and I also keep my weight in check

[Anonymous]

All girls gain weight before puberty.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Is she almost 10? Maybe she IS going through a growth spurt, chunking up before puberty? I would say limit to two helpings on occasion, and otherwise it sounds like you are doing is exactly what you should be (healthy food, exercise, not mentioning weight).

Are you going light on carbs?? If so, that could be why her hunger isn't satiated?

This. My oldest is skinny as a rail. She barely gained weight before puberty. My second started getting very chunky at 9. Got a little overweight, maybe 2-3 points into the overweight BMI category after a healthy BMI her whole life. Her doctor wasn't concerned at all, and said its probably her body preparing for puberty. Now she's 10, and she's taller, thin again but with some curves, and breast buds. It seems young for that pre puberty weight gain, but I bet that's what it is.

At any rate, if you're feeding her healthy foods and she's that active, she might just be hungry. She might just naturally be a little thick. You could make rules about seconds, like you can only have one serving of pasta but all the veggies and protein you want. Dont let meals last too long either, because if they go on too long the natural response is to take more food. There's no reason to sit at the table for more than half an hour. Make sure she's chewing her food well. If she's rushing through eating, she might not feel full emotionally even if she's physically eating enough. Make sure she's getting enough fat and protein for someone her age. I'd strongly encourage you to let her listen to her body so she can learn to stop eating when she's nearly full rather than when mom tells her to. Self regulation is key to healthy weight.