Reply to I think my tween needs to lose weight. How to handle?

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[quote=Anonymous][quote=Anonymous]My 11 year old son has been getting progressively pudgier - mostly around his waist, it's now almost at the point where his belly is hanging over his pants/shorts waist. I think this bothers him (his older brothers are both very lean) but he has not said anything about losing weight to me directly. He weighs about 110 and is 5'1 or 5'2.

HIs activity level is moderate - he is not super into sports but does do a sport activity 2-3 days a week, we are also training for a 5k together, and he walks to school every day.

He's on a low dose of Lexapro and Concerta for ADHD. His eating habits are a bit unique. He eats a HUGE breakfast - he is really hungry in the morning and usually eats a breakfast burrito or sandwich (homemade) with eggs and cheese, 1% milk, maybe some cereal, and a muffin. He does not have a huge lunch appetite and it's hard for me to know what exactly he's eating because he's at school. I've told him he is not allowed to get a breakfast item when he gets to school (he was sometimes buying another muffin or other baked good from the school). He usually then wants an after school snack - he will often get himself some cereal or something. He eats a moderate dinner - usually a balanced meal of meat, a starch (potatoes, egg noodles, rice, etc) and vegetable. We have a no-dessert rule for weekdays. He refuses to eat fruit but will eat vegetables. I suspect he may be sneaking unhealthy food when I'm not around.

Do I just let this go until a pediatrician says something? I will continue to push on physical activity but I suspect the issue is more diet. I have tried to cut back the starchy, carby food. I hesitate to cut him off at breakfast because he just seems so hungry and the ADHD medication means he's not super hungry at lunch - but then he is hungry after school. Do I ban after-school snack?

He also suffers from some anxiety and low self esteem and comparing himself negatively to his older brother (who actually needs to gain weight, so that's awkward for me - encouraging high calorie food for the older brother but restricting it for the younger one) and so I really don't want to make this a big deal, but I worry if we keep heading down this path it will make the anxiety and self-esteem issues worse when he is viewed as a "fat kid" in school.

Thanks for any advice.[/quote]

No more muffins. [/quote]

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