Oh.....I think I could cry :-(

[ummmm]

Ginger has been telling me for yonks that my youngest son is fat. I couldn't see it myself....a bit plump maybe, but not fat.

I've just had a letter from the NHS informing me that he is indeed VERY fat :-(

What to do???

He eats healthy (although I think he sneaks food because he's greedy) he walks a minimum of 5 miles a day.....What next?

[bigfoot3000]

How tall is he and what's his age and weight?

[redcrx]

are there any sports he likes that he could join a club for?

how old is he? kids tend to grow out and then up, my 2 (i know they are younger) get really chubby faces just before a growth spurt.

[China Doll]

Does he like martial arts? Karate classes could be good for him if he does and will keep him active. Loads of water, no money of his own unless you can see what he spends it on (if he's sneaking sweets) and just don't keep the good stuff in the kitchen and hide it so only you can dish out treats if and when they're deserved. Depending on his age, star charts work quite well too, we advise parents to use them on quite a lot for weight loss and bed wetting type probs.

[ummmm]

According to the letter he is 4ft 9 and weighs 8st 1.....he's 11.

The other 2 are really skinny.....painfully so.

[ummmm]

I took him CD....there's a class just down the road. He lasted 2 lessons. I even started karate lessons with him....not interested. He's very shy.

He does loads of dancing.

[Bbbananas]

I wouldn't worry too much ummm - he's probably due a growth spurt. He obviously keeps active and doesn;t have a bad diet. Things tend to level themselves out. I certainly wouldn;'t say he's VERY fat.

[RATTER15]

He's not over weight, he is just too short!!

[Bobbisox]

umm my daughter had one too for Ben, he was just turned 5, he was 3 ozs outside the graph, you can just about count his ribs, she was so annoyed she rang the local council from where these things are directed, the apologized profusely saying it was Government group who do the paperwork and just see something passing the required mark, my daughter r reckons he hadn't had a poo that day!

[China Doll]

Star charts probably a bit too imature for him if he's a mature 11 year old but a system based on a weekly treat could work. We have one lad about the same age who has taken up thai kundo (sp), football and some track events and is having three set meals a day with two small snacks of fruit, he's now allowed any fizzy stuff or sweets etc... And once a week, if he's been good, he gets to have a burger king (kids meal) with his dad so that he's got an incentive to keep going - here's no point in banning all treats as it'd just make him miserable. This fellas pretty overweight too but the fact that he's losing (and has lost) quite a lot is keeping him focused and he's feel a lot more confident in himself too.

[rowanwitch]

It's rotten being a fat kid... be strong now.... trouble is you don't know what he eats when you are not with him, and it may be he's got in the habit of eating full adult portions, I still remember how badly being overweight affected my childhood... my mum didn't care enough to help me or she was too busy to care....I know your son will have you and his dad helping him, and he will love you for it later . one of the things he will need is a distraction from the times he eats snacks etc. extra hobbies will help a lot. How old is he ...? if he is very young it will be a lot easier as he will have less opportunities to sneak extra food...Good luck and get anyone who might be able to help onside
Wii Fit is good so long as you don't take too much notice of the comments made by the little cartoon board... and it now allows for competition between users which is more fun.

[ummmm]

I think I need to get a trampoline. We had one in my old house and he lost loads of weight because he was on it all day. It's just that the garden here is very small.

Oh well....I don't like sunbathing anyway....

[ummmm]

It's not COD boy....it's the other one.

Swimming....good idea.

[rowanwitch]

Sorry, overlapped with the post where you said he is 11 really unfair for him to have skinny siblings.... I have a skinny sister,, makes it harder,,,, If he loves dancing thats brilliant....wii do lots of dance based games really good fun... and just think when he is older he'll have an extra advantage when out on the hunt for girls....boys who can dance well have always been popular How about something like street dance classes, would be good for his confidence and his creds

[4getmenot]

My blokes niece is very large for her age. Thing is the school dont get her out to play at lunch. If she says she doesnt want to go outside thats it, she gets to stay in classroom. She will be moving to another school in Sep hopefully she will get more exercise then.

[ummmm]

He won't do it Rowan. He's mildly autistic and hates strangers.

[bednobs]

he may have a healthy diet but perhaps he is having too much of it? do you give him kids portions or the kind of portions you would eat? Also, what do you call a healthy diet?

[bigfoot3000]

Yo say he walks 5miles a day, at 11 with our internet addicted children who never walk more then two steps off their doorsteps isn't that considered great? What's his diet like umumm?

[ummmm]

Healthy diet....fresh veg with every meal. I never buy pop, crisps, biscuits or cakes. We have chips about once a month....rarely ever have takeaways...I fry as little as possible. They're not allowed salt and I decide how much sauce they can have with their food...if any. They are not suppose to help themselves to anything but fruit (!)

Ginger said I should tell them at the shop....but I think that would humiliate him.

I think his down fall is cereal and bread......