Anonymous wrote:4'11 and 97 pounds for a 10 yo girl sounds normal to me. Some girls have their biggest growth spurt around that age.

That's the age when all of the girls shot up. I bet she has a growth spurt coming. Just watch what food you are buying. It's not like your daughter is doing the grocery shopping. The OP has a whole lot of control of what food is brought into the house.

My DD’s body totally changed at about 10.5 - she was a skinny string bean and suddenly she was curvy and had quite a bit of meat on her bones, and then she shot up. It happened so fast that she got stretch marks. Sure enough, she got her period soon after turning 11. It’s normal to gain weight just before puberty. She’s no longer a stringbean, but she’s fit and healthy.

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:10yr old DD was a very active child pre-covid. She ran 5Ks every 3-4 months, played flag football once a week in fall, lacrosse 3 times a week in fall and spring, basketball 3 times a week in winter, and karate 3 times a week year round. Then covid came. Everything stopped (flag football and basketball were over). Karate went online and is limited. DD seems to have gained significant weight. I notice she moves less and eats more (sometimes out of boredom). She doesn't eat unhealthy food but she eats a lot of food. Yesterday she stepped on a scale and I was shocked!!! She's 4'11" and 97 lbs. She is on the cusp of being overweight and she used to be a skinny girl. I don't want to give her body image issues or a complex so I have said nothing.

I m a runner. I plan to ask her to start running with me at least one time a week. I run about 5 miles but will see if she can do 1 mile. She used to run 5Ks but now I'm not sure she can run a mile without stopping. How else can I encourage more movement to get this under control?

Is this satire? That’s a 19.6 BMI.

People really need to understand that children are on a different BMI scale. My 10 year old daughter has a BMI of 14.7. That is considered normal and not underweight.

So oddly specific about knowing your daughter's BMI. So weird, and a bit creepy, too.

Omg you people are crazy, lol. NP here. The pediatrician provides this information! After our visits, we get a form with weight, height, BMI. Sheesh. Posters are correct that children are in a different height/weigh scale than adults. My DD is under 5’ and 97lbs, and she is a bit overweight. And adult woman would be thin.

Anonymous wrote:OP, when my daughter was 5’3” and 86 pounds, she was hospitalized.

You should get a consult at Children’s. Your care team should be seeing this as a medical emergency.

And pro tip: many nutritionists have eating disorders. Their obsess with food draws them to the profession. Not all of course, but more than other professions. If they aren’t getting weight on your older daughter every week, then you need to find someone else.

5'3" and 86lb is 5th percentile BMI and not considered underweight. Of course there could be other things going on or an ED but some kids do have a low bmi genetically. My daughter who is that height and 97lb was often 5-10% bmi throughout her grade school years, it would not have been a red flag for her. She eats a ton, just has a good metabolism and has always been that way. That said if they are doing weight checks, her doctor must be concerned.

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Anonymous wrote:It sounds like she's an early grower. My DD is 4' 5" (on the shorter side) and 60 lbs (petite). Honestly, 97 lbs doesn't sound unreasonable for being almost 5 feet tall. Are you sure that's overweight?

It’s actually almost underweight.

My 13 year old is the same weight and 5'3" and isn't underweight, she's in the 25th percentile for BMI so I doubt it.

That said, a lot of kids chunk up at this age before puberty. Its probably that more than anything. You shouldn't have to be super active to keep your weight the same, so you should really eyeball what the family diet is like and make some modifications if she has gained a lot of weight quickly.

That said the stats seem normal enough, she's quite tall for 10, my 10 year old is only 72lb but several inches shorter.

A team sport where she can socialize would be a good choice. My kids do dance classes.

OP here - there is a scale in my house because my oldest is underweight. We are supposed to keep track of her gains. The oldest came out tiny. I carried her for 38 weeks (full term) and she was 4 lbs but 22 inches long. She's been a string bean her whole life and her medication does not help the situation so we are working with doctors and I trust their care. It may seem shocking to you to see her weight and height, but she's been on the small side since she exited the womb so we are working on it but no one is being hospitalized. They are tracking her chart/growth curve since she was an infant. The kid is a black belt in karate and has won tournaments and beaten girls twice her size. She is strong but she does need to gain weight.

As for the 10 year old. She went on the scale without me and then told me her weight. Her clothes aren't fitting as well and she is noticing it. I think that's why she stepped on the scale. I then asked her to show me and my reaction out loud was "what a strong growing girl you are." My reaction inside was shock! I also told her we will go shopping Saturday and pick out fun new clothes for her and emphasized how fun it will be. 

I have a child who is underweight. Do you really think I want weight issues with my youngest? This post was about how to get her to move more. I never asked how to get her to lose weight. I mentioned her height and weight so readers could advise. A once active child is now sedentary and that concerns me. The weight, being so rapid also concerns me, but I know better than to worry a young girl about weight. I'm not a thin woman but I'm a size 4/6 and I know the pressure society puts on women to look a certain way. I don't want that for my child but I also don't want a couch potato, especially when she used to be so active.

Thank you to those who gave actual advice and cautioned me about pitfalls I could make in trying to get her to be more active, It was much appreciated. 

OP, you said, "Yesterday she stepped on a scale and I was shocked!!!"

Why are weighing your 10 year old? And even if you say you haven't said anything, I'm sure she picked up on your shock.

Obviously if she gained or lost a significant amount of weight, you'd call your ped. But you say she doesn't even look overweight. And if you weren't weighing her specifically, why is there a scale around the house to the point that your DD just "stepped on it" when another child in the household is having significant weight issues?

Focus on strength, endurance, Cardiovascular health and the positive benefits if exercise in mental health.

It sounds like the weight gain is from a change from active to sedentary and from larger portions. You don't want those things to become habits. Food is fuel.

Talk to her about health, physical and me tal health and how you have noticed changes in her lifestyle and habits and talk about ways to get back to healthier living. At her age and weight there is no need to mention weight as part of that conversation.

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:OP, you need to chill. My DD is 4'11 as well as weighs 109. She is completely healthy and looks great.

https://www.cdc.gov/healthyweight/bmi/calculator.html

Not sure how old your DD is, but that is likely overweight per CDC

My tiny 13 year old is 4'11 also (growth plates show delay in growth) and 110 pounds. She is not fat at all. She normally swims 3x a week for 1 1/2 hours and plays soccer 3x a week plus games. She is not doing any sports since summer but runs a couple of miles every day to stay in shape (she loves working out). She hasn't gained any weight, her appetite has gone down since she isn't burning as many calories but has maintained her weight. She is very fit, trim and muscular.

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:10yr old DD was a very active child pre-covid. She ran 5Ks every 3-4 months, played flag football once a week in fall, lacrosse 3 times a week in fall and spring, basketball 3 times a week in winter, and karate 3 times a week year round. Then covid came. Everything stopped (flag football and basketball were over). Karate went online and is limited. DD seems to have gained significant weight. I notice she moves less and eats more (sometimes out of boredom). She doesn't eat unhealthy food but she eats a lot of food. Yesterday she stepped on a scale and I was shocked!!! She's 4'11" and 97 lbs. She is on the cusp of being overweight and she used to be a skinny girl. I don't want to give her body image issues or a complex so I have said nothing.

I m a runner. I plan to ask her to start running with me at least one time a week. I run about 5 miles but will see if she can do 1 mile. She used to run 5Ks but now I'm not sure she can run a mile without stopping. How else can I encourage more movement to get this under control?

Is this satire? That’s a 19.6 BMI.

People really need to understand that children are on a different BMI scale. My 10 year old daughter has a BMI of 14.7. That is considered normal and not underweight.

So oddly specific about knowing your daughter's BMI. So weird, and a bit creepy, too.

OP, when my daughter was 5’3” and 86 pounds, she was hospitalized.

You should get a consult at Children’s. Your care team should be seeing this as a medical emergency.

And pro tip: many nutritionists have eating disorders. Their obsess with food draws them to the profession. Not all of course, but more than other professions. If they aren’t getting weight on your older daughter every week, then you need to find someone else.

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:OP, you need to chill. My DD is 4'11 as well as weighs 109. She is completely healthy and looks great.

https://www.cdc.gov/healthyweight/bmi/calculator.html

Not sure how old your DD is, but that is likely overweight per CDC

It completely depends on where she is re: puberty. If she’s gaining weight because she’s about to shoot up, or if she’s gained weight because she now has boobs, hips, and a period, then she’s not overweight.

Anonymous wrote:OP, you need to chill. My DD is 4'11 as well as weighs 109. She is completely healthy and looks great.

https://www.cdc.gov/healthyweight/bmi/calculator.html

Not sure how old your DD is, but that is likely overweight per CDC

OP, you need to chill. My DD is 4'11 as well as weighs 109. She is completely healthy and looks great.

Anonymous wrote:5’7 for a girl is taller than average.

Opps, I meant my DH is 5'7"