How do I get my 9 year old daughter to stay off junk food and stop eating all the time?

Question

My only daughter who is 9 years old wants to eat all the time. She is getting miserable fat. I am very upset about it. We live in an appartment in Mauritius and she hasnt got any friends to play with nearby. Weekends we take her to the beachs or for visiting friends. How do I get her to cut down on her eating habits and get a normal figure?

Answer 1

Keep all of the junk food in a cabinet and lock it up.

Answer 2

First of all who's the parent here? You are in control of the money
and the transportation. There is no need to buy junk food. NO
MEANS NO!! Let her cry, she'll get over it. My daughter is skinny
and I have problems with her eating. She thinks she needs to be outside in a hurry without eating. I tell her if you don't eat you don't
get to go out side. And in your case it's opposite, you need to give her a healthy breakfast one serving. And for lunch give her
another healthy food. If she wants a snack give her an apple,
or just substitute it with something healthy. The same goes for
dinner, she is only 9 and doesn't need a big portion. If she doesn't have any friends then take her to the park or make time
to play with her so she can get the exercise she needs to lose
the weight. She'll never notice that she is doing exercise because, she is to busy having fun. An our a day keeps the
DR. away. She is still young so she has plenty of time to lose the weight. Now if it were us then it is harder. STOP BUYING
JUNK FOOD!! And its not just for her it's her health you have
think about. It can cause heart failure. Talk to her she 's old enough to understand. Leave the junk food for a treat. once a
week is okay, but not everyday.

Answer 3

What in the world is a "normal figure"? I'm hoping you mean a "healthy weight". If not, I will assume that you are a single father as no woman in this century with half a brain would put up with that attitude for very long - and I truly feel sorry for your daughter.
To answer your male chauvinistic sounding question, your daughter is only 9 years old - where is she getting all this junk food from? You're the parent, you decide what food goes into the house. Simple solution - STOP BUYING JUNK FOOD!!!!!

Answer 4

Be careful. She might be eating because she is bored or depressed and letting her know you think she's fat may make the problem much worse.

She has to want to get skinny. Having friends would help that.

If she doesn't have any friends, she needs to make some. Girls encourage each other to lose weight and stuff.

Try taking all the junk food out of the house and buying her favorite fruits instead.

Answer 5

Change the way you eat and groceries you buy. Go for family walks. Take the stairs, park far away from the door. Get a kid exercise video and do it with her. See if their is a sport she is into and enroll her. But DO NOT get on her about her weight. Just tell her you guys are working on being healthier people. You don't want to start an eating disorder or poor self esteem issues with her. A nine year old shouldn't be on a "diet" but simply eating healthy.

Answer 6

First of all I'm sure you make her very aware of your feelings on the subject of food. It has been my experience that when you feel that you have let your mother down wither it be in your appearance or academics etc Your daughter will start to start to feel inadequate . Once that happens then a cycle emerges of over eating, low self esteem, and anger and may even manifest in other ways as she grows older.
My suggestion is to let her know how wonderful she is and how proud you are of her and that you love her. Don't make her appearance and her eating habits your main focus in fact I would just put it on the back burner. Try to find something she excels in that Will give her confidence and self worth. In my case it was my horses. Then let her know you think she is a superstar no matter how well she does. I think if you take this approach yo will find her weight will stabilize on it's own.
And anyway, what's normal? only a cycle on your wash machine.

Answer 7

I feel for ya. I'd say.. i am a single mom of a nine year old boy..We also live in an apartment... first things first.. I think maybe she is eatting out of bordom.. and maybe a little sad cause she has no friends.. Keep an eye in the building for girls her age.. and invite them over to YOUR place to play... even .. one sleepover will do the trick .. then only serve FUN healthy foods.Apples taste better when they are sliced. And Oranges peeled.Sandwiches cut in tiny squares. Jello.. layered with different coluors. Fresh fruit salad. seeds nuts and dried fruit get her some little girlfriends in the building... and switch to FUN foods.. not junk foods

Answer 8

first, realize that she feels much worse about being overweight than you think.. since she is 9, she should NOT be on a diet.

go through the house and throw out the junk food. only buy healthy food. this is a sacrifice you will have to make for your daughter's well being.

also, every evening, go for a walk with her. this will provide some exercise and one-on-one time with you, which will help her self-esteem (which will also help her lose weight)

and, if possible, try getting her involved in something near your house. a sport, girlscouts, a youth group club. try during the week to take her to your local YMCA to go swimming or play in the gymnasics area... she might meet other kids here.

the most important thing is to not make her feel ashamed about her body. if you make her feel bad about herself she will never lose the weight, i guarantee.

Answer 9

You're obvoiusly a concerned parent that wants to help your little girl. Everybody is right, stop buying junk food. I have a junk food loving 3 year old but she actually prefers fresh fruit to chips. Stock the refrigerator every 2 or 3 days with Strawberries, Apples, Oranges, Carrots, Celery, etc. In the pantry you should have bananas, Cinnamon Life cereal makes a really good cracker & it's pretty healthy. Teach her to put her snacks in a small bowl or zip lock bag so she doesn't overeat - believe me she's done it before & knows she'll fell miserable. Teach your daughter how to use a knife to cut up the fruit, if she can't do it already. If it's a project she may feel like she's prolonging the meal & she won't have to eat as often. You may do well to teach her how to cook a couple of healthy meals, a roasted chicken with mashed potatoes and broccoli is surprisingly easy to make & healthy too. She'll benefit from the extra attention of your one on one teaching AND she'll be learning how to eat healthy. Yes, she can handle the kitchen, my 5 year old can scramble an egg with supervision. If you're eating out order off the adult menu for her, something healthy like grilled chicken or fish instead of macoroni & cheese or fried chicken & french fries. If you're worried about the portions, just ask the waitress to split the meal and put half into a take out box. Or share with her, most times a restaurant is enough to feed two people. She may like the extra attention of sharing a meal with dad too. If she chooses not to eat because she doesn't like the selection, fine. She's not going to die before she decides to try a new food.

Try and find a class she can take with other kids for exercise. Chances are if you're in good shape she can't keep up with your normal exercise (running, etc) but there may be a kids fitness class at your gym. Beginning level Gymnastics or Dance would get her out of the house, away from the TV, she would be getting some exercise and meeting other kids. The beach is a great activity, you could throw a frisby back & forth (which is a lot of exercise until you get good at it). Go to the mall on the weekend and walk the length back and forth - window shop. Maybe she'll be inclined to check out some clothes she'd like to wear but doesn't feel comfortable wearing in her current condition.

Believe me she knows she's fat! She cares that she's fat! She's probably horribly ashamed of herself and has no hope of improving her situation. She probably doesn't approach other children to make friends for fear they'll shun her or tell her she's fat. Little girls are the meanest beings on the planet when it comes to saying horrible, degrading things. Your daughter wants your help! If you approach this wrong with her, she's going to feel like her daddy is ashamed of her like something is wrong with her. You probably are ashamed but not of her, make that clear. Talk with her about it, tell her you are making a lifestyle change yourself and you'd like her to help you. You probably eat a small amount of junk food yourself though you probably have it under control. You are making a lifestyle change, you're changing to a lifestyle that includes a happy, healthy, normal weight 9 year old.

Answer 10

By not placing so much focus on it...you are only drawing attention to it and making it more attractive for her to do it. Clear your home of unhealthy snacks and replace it with healthier choices. She can only eat what is available to her. Tell her you love her for who she is. You must build up her self esteem. Take walks with her...you must set the example through action, not words. Don't make it an issue; but don't purchase fast food...you are the adult, you control the purse strings. Then the whole thing will lose its appeal to her and you will give her a valuable life skill. See if you can join a Mommy & Me group at your local library. It will introduce her to other children in a controled environment...with you by her side...and forge the way to healthy bonding with your daughter.

Answer 11

Do not buy her junk food. Ocassionally its fine to have it, don't deprive her. Just teach her its a special treat and that real food is fresh fruits and veggies, lean meants, whole grains. Since she doesn't really have friends nearby, in the evenings take her for 30 min walks arond the neighborhood. Make sure she drinks plenty of water. She is at an age where you are the one who is really in charge of what she is eating and so it shouldn't be that difficult to change her habbits.