Reply to 11yo has a 'pot belly'

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[quote=Anonymous]My son is 12 and never grew out of the "baby belly."  I suspect some of it is genetic, as he is shaped just like his father.  (Stocky with strong upper body, but prone to a gut.)

Here is what we did:

1) Healthy Diet -- lots of veggies/fruits. We don't forbid desserts and treats, but don't eat them everyday.  No soda, except for maybe at parties. (He doesn't really like soda.) He drinks a lot of water, some O.J., and a Gatorade about once a week. No sugary cereals.  (Doesn't really like cereal.)  Usually packs a lunch (turkey sandwich, veggie, fruit, yogurt) rather than buying lunch at school.

2) Kid has some food allergies, so we felt it was important for him to learn how to cook for himself.  This has help him eat healthier as well.  He took a cooking class that talked about nutrition as well.

3) Exercise -- He exercises at least 5 days a week for an hour at a time.  This doesn't include recess or PE in school.  He did martial arts when he was younger, and when he was old enough started running 5Ks and working out at the gym. He also plays baseball and flag football. We got him a couple of sessions with a personal trainer to work out some routines that were appropriate for his age and development.  He will typically run a couple of miles and do sit-ups and pushups.

We've noticed a big difference in the last year.  He's developed more upper body strength and lost some of the gut.  His BMI has gone down a little. (He was borderline overweight, but now falls in the "normal" range.)  I suspect some of these changes are due to the onset of puberty.

Bottom line:  I would work towards healthy habits and fitness benchmarks and not dwell on body shape. You will likely see a big difference in the next couple of years.[/quote]

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