Since we have moved into a "good" neighborhood. My daughter is less active . Most of the kids are involved in indoor educational activites. My daughter is 8, and weighs 102 lbs. My girl is beginning puberty and is very tall and soilid, not fat. However her clothing is costing me a fortune. Problem is all she want to do is eat and watch tvif no other kids are out. Even while she's out she doesn't run alot. I am 5-7 her dad is 5-11 225lbs. Is she just going to be an amazon? People make rude or stupid comments infront of her, to her, or try to restrict her eating or suggest I have a doctor look into it. I wasn't concerned until she started turning down food she liked and mentioned being on a diet.
2006-08-01 12:32:35 · 25 answers · asked by nene 3 in Pregnancy & Parenting ➔ Grade-Schooler
absolutely you should be concerned!!! Even if she is overweight, dieting is the perfectly wrong solution for you. Instead, she should be learning about healthy food choices, how to enjoy healthy cooking, and how to enjoy being active. You and your husband are the best people to act on this -- are you leading by example? Have her shop and cook with you, learning about all the benefits and varieties of fruits and vegetables. Get her involved in a physical activity she enjoys (something at her school, YMCA, Community Center provide swimming lessons, iceskating, martial arts, dance, fitness training at great prices). She should know that "dieting" at her age she will only stunt her growth (not get any taller, only wider!). She needs to develop a POSITIVE ATTITUDE about eating, exercise, and her body, not a negative or restrictive attitude -- which is why you want to find things she enjoys and make her realize that eating healthy and exercising is not a punishment for being overweight, it's a way of life with tons of great benefits down the road.
2006-08-01 12:48:24 · answer #1 · answered by Karen H 3 · 1⤊ 0⤋
We can't tell if she's overweight because we don't know her height, build or muscle level. Frankly, you probably can't tell either because she's your baby girl and you love her. What does her pediatrician think? Is 8 not quite early for puberty?
She has mentioned 'diet' - so she is concerned about her weight. It is up to you to teach her what a real diet is - and by this I do not mean a temporary weight loss program, but 'diet' in the true sense of having a lifelong healthy eating program. Its all well and good to say she's young and she should eat what she likes, but that's simply not the reality for many of us. I would _like_ to eat a large bag of chips and dip every day. Throw out the scale, but bring in the healthy food. You shouldn't restrict how much she eats of the right foods, but you should teach her to make good food choices - and demonstrate the same. As for activity, I am NOT an expert in what level of activity an 8 year old needs. Like other posters, I remember being thrown outside when all I wanted to do was play video games. I don't know the best answer, but my gut is to suggest a physical activity level more like what a healthy adult might have - an hour or so a day of relatively intense physical activity. Have her go for a brisk 1 hour bike ride, then watch TiVo - that'd be better then just banning tv and having her slouch around the house all day. It also sets a better example for life. You need to help her find some physical activities she can do - ideally for decades - as part of a healthy lifestyle.
So in summary, focus on health! Eat healthy foods, eat reasonable portions and fill up on vegetables if you're hungry still, get a reasonable amount of brisk exercise, and then don't worry about it.
2006-08-02 12:53:13 · answer #2 · answered by kheserthorpe 7 · 0⤊ 0⤋
I was very chunky & never very active from birth 'till age 11. Then I had a huge growth spurt and got super-thin. As an adult I'm 5'11" and weigh around 140 (pretty average for my height, not over weight). Some people just aren't active. I can remember my mom "forcing" me to play outside, and I hated it, I would have much rather been reading. Try not to make any comments on her weight & appearance, I had a horrible bought in high school with anorexia/bulemia largely partially because my mom put so much focus on my weight & what I was eating. Her body is probably changing right now because of her age, I'll bet she shoots up pretty tall in the next year or two.
Good luck & God bless!
:)Ashley
2006-08-01 20:13:26 · answer #3 · answered by Ashley F 3 · 0⤊ 0⤋
If you are 5'7" I imagine you were taller then the other kids. Remember how that made you feel. Now think about her...Todays society is taking a hard look at our kids and our kids are suffering because of it. She's dieting because culture is telling her she has too. She's calling out to you, take the chance. Now is the time to talk to her about balancing nutrition and splurges (cookies are fine in moderation...etc.) If she's worried now, it's not going to stop. Our local YMCA offers a kids nutrition and exercise awareness class. They teach the kids about BMI, fun exercise activites and how to eat healthy and still enjoy the foods you love. They also have a cool new Interactive Zone where the exercise machines are hooked to video games and you compete with other exercisers to climb a mountain and stuff. It's a lot of fun and for ages 5 and up. We go as a family and compete against each other.
Finally, don't force her to eat. If she turns down her favorite food, accept that. Let her help you prepare the weekly menu and cook the food. Letting her be in control of her body and giving her the knowledge to properly do that will help her and you. Lead by example...going outside to exercise alone is boring, take up yoga in the living room with her. Buy dance revolution for the video game machine (I love it and lost 5 pounds myself), ride mountain bikes together and search out cool new trails. She's still young enough to let you be her friend....take advantage of it.
Good luck to you
2006-08-02 13:07:39 · answer #4 · answered by Amy B 3 · 0⤊ 0⤋
The age 8 and the word diet should never be put together unless by a doctor. Here is a great site to work out how her weight is. For exercise why don't you join her in some activities...ie swimming basketball soccor scouts. Stuff to get her out and about with other kids. Get out with her and have fun. No children should be inside all the time
2006-08-02 01:09:50 · answer #5 · answered by Rachel 7 · 0⤊ 0⤋
My daughter is 8 also, she is 4.5 inches and 83 lbs. She often complains of being the biggest of her friends. We recently cut out fast food and each night after dinner we exercise, which is either bike riding, walking the beach or even running around the playground. Her doctor told me just concentrate on healthy choices. Skim milk, lowfat ice cream, and instead of a peanut butter sandwich we switched to apples with peanut butter.
People also always say oh she is tall for her age. I tell her she has the the Sweedish/German genes.
2006-08-01 22:37:35 · answer #6 · answered by Marge Simpson 6 · 0⤊ 0⤋
at the age of 8, constant teasing about being fat are heartbreaking to a kid.
her mentioning being on a diet means that she has low self esteem and wants to be like the other kids. why not compromise about a diet with her and keep veggies to snack on instead of fattening food.
take her to the doctor to see if there is a real problem.
why are you letting people make rude and stupid comments in front of her. you are her parent and its your responcibility to protect her.
does she belong to a gym? are there any sports that she cant take to meet other kids and build up her self esteem? is there a ymca in your area or a fitness club?
my kids wanted to take taek won do classes. those really took the weight off. the kids practiced at home and i got out there and learned kicks and how to break boards right along with them. it was something that we all did together and it sure helped them to know that i was not supermom and we learned a lot about ourselves and each other without having to pull teeth to do it.
sounds to me like you need to move out of the "good neighborhood" and find one where the kids can be kids and not worry about what the neighbors think.
2006-08-02 01:17:10 · answer #7 · answered by lodeemae 5 · 0⤊ 0⤋
The other kids will catch up eventually, but she'll probably be teased until then. If you don't get her active now, then when they all catch up heightwise, she'll be fat and they'll make fun of her for that too. People are going to assume a tall girl plays basketball or volleyball, so why not get her started now. People don't make fun of athletic girls as much.
2006-08-01 19:39:46 · answer #8 · answered by graybear 4 · 0⤊ 0⤋
That's kind of weird since it sounds like you and your husband are normal sized. Some kids grow faster than others. Her growing should slow in a couple of years. I would highly suggest enrolling her in martial arts. Not only will she get plenty of exercise but she will learn self-esteem and self-defense skills. You could also get a dog that she could take for daily walks. Also, try to eliminate all junk food from the house. Make sure she has plenty of healthy snacks to chose from but get rid of any candy and chips.
2006-08-01 19:43:02 · answer #9 · answered by Cybeq 5 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Well find a sport, like softball or field hockey, for her to join and she'll meet girls her own age and get the excersize she needs. Those two sports have a lot of running. But another fun sport is lacrosse. Or what about figure skating or gymnastics? She's just the right age for that.
2006-08-02 11:25:28 · answer #10 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 0⤋