Underweight seven year old???

[jamxtart]

My son will be seven in a couple of weeks, and at the moment i'm a little concerned about his weight. He weighs 3 stone 5 pounds and is about 3 foot 9 inches tall. He looks really skinny without clothes on you can see all his ribs and bones. My son is very active always always playing football, he takes part in different sports clubs, runs to school and he never seems to sit still, he's also quite a good eater but he's a grazer he would rather eat little and often all day instead of 3 meals. I've checked the bmi's online for children and they say hes at the right weight (just) but i'm still a little worried as he does seem a bit too skinny, and grandparents have remarked how thin he is, just wondering what you lovely peeps think? He hasn't lost weight by the way hes just seemed skinny since he was about 5.

[ummmm]

I wouldn't worry. If he eats, drinks and is active...the chances are he's very healthy.

I have two skinny ones....both eat like horses.

[tenrec]

One of my children was just like your son. Absolutely nothing wrong with him, loved his football, didn't eat loads, but had plenty of energy. He is over 30 now and still as skinny as a stick! Hope that helps.

[nungate]

My younger brother was built like that, skinny always on the go, ate like a horse, he's now six feet tall, still on the skinny side (don't you hate that?)and over fifty! Your lad sounds just like him. He'll be fine I'm sure

[maggiebee]

My darling grandson was a chubby baby, but ever since he started walking (he's 11 now) he's been a real sinnymalink. He's always on the move, loves sport and like your son is a grazer. Hates sitting down for a meal and I must admit is a bit of a fussy eater. I think he looks really skinny - can see his ribs -but when my daughter asked the doctor he said he's perfectly healthy and just naturally thin. Given up worrying about it. Maybe you should just accept that's the way he is.

[daisya]

Have you had his thyroid checked out, hope he isn't but could have hyperthyroidism. With you saying he never sits still and is a good eater those are sometimes symptoms...just thought I'd mention it in case you might have wondered too. Hope you can put your mind at rest as I know how worrying it can be when it's your child.

[Kassee]

One of my son's was like your boy. My mum really worried me about him and told me to get him checked out, so I took him to the doctor.
This was thirty years ago, he has a son of his own now. Anyway doctor told me if he is generally healthy and not ill all the time (and he was) and he is eating healthy food, fruit, etc then he is fine and told me not to take too much notice of my mother.
At the time he was an active little boy, ate a lot of apples and liked peanut butter, but wouldn't eat a proper dinner. He grazed on his food, like your son. Doctor said that was fine, peanut butter sandwich was just as good as a roast dinner apparently.

[Sqad]

I agree with all the posters.

daisya does have a point, although hyperthyroidism is extremely rare in children and i have never come across a case in four decades of clinical practise.

[johnk]

Your son sounds fine, don't worry so much.

[Vicasso]

Your son sounds like my three boys were twenty something years ago, well fed and always on the go. if I look at photos or videos of them, they are so skinny. Stop worrying, kids of that age should be growing vertically, not horizontally :-)