is it safe to put a child on a diet?

Question

why i ask this is because i have just had a text off my daughters dad saying she has put weight on and we need to nip it in the bud. my daughter is a normal sized 5 year old and all she has is a rounded tummy. i am a bit concerned because he is weight obsessed and when we was together her used to control my eating and even said i was fat. i was in a size 12 and 10st. might be big for a 5ft women but i am pushing 6ft. she does have a varied diet but i dont restrict her eating but because we are in the middle of winter she hasnt been out playing(i dont want her getting ill) and we have just got over a period when most of us pig out a little. sorry i have waffled but i am really mad with my ex. is he right or should i just let her enjoy being a kid?

i am not saying women who are that weight are big by the way.

she eats plenty of fruit and veg and very rarely has fatty foods. i would say she has a good diet really

Answer 1

I don't think putting a child on a "diet" is ok. However, encouraging your child to be healthy is great! Encourage healthy eating habits and excercise! Dieting can be about restricting and can be more about weight/physical looks.


Encourage health rather than dieting

She is way too young to be on a diet and have to deal with body and weight issues. Let her be a kid! Just give her plenty of healthy foods to eat and physical excercise that is fun!

Answer 2

Please don't listen to your Ex, no child, whatever age, should be put on a diet.
I have struggled with my weight all my life due to a weight obsessed parent. Had it been allowed to sort itself out naturally I would not be struggling so much as I am now.
Your daughter may have a rounded tummy, but once the nights are lighter and its not so cold, and she is running about more it will settle. If your Health Visitor is voicing concerns and your daughter has been diagnosed as clinically obese, then sure follow a food regime set by a qualified dietitian. If not, continue feeding her a balanced diet and and give her a chance to grow into the wonderful person you know she is. If you are pushing 6ft, it suggests she has a long way to grow, let her do it and deal with any problems when she is an adult and has some control herself.
Enjoy your daughter, ignore your Ex, and kick him in the shins for me when you see him next!!!

Answer 3

he obviously has issues with this subject.You should never put a child on a diet since it can affect their growth,bones etc. If you are concerned about her weight then a healthy eating plan is best (plenty of fresh fruit,veg etc..not too many sweets,cakes,chocs..but you already seem to be doing this).He is talking rubbish and if he was a good father he wouldn't have suggested this in the first place since diets can do irrepairable damage not only physically but psychologically. Ignore him,calm down and do what YOU think is best.By the way a rounded stomach is natural for a girl/woman.

Answer 4

As long as your child eats a healthy balanced diet and gets a bit of exercise everyday there is no need to put her on a diet at such a young age. My four year old has a round tummy too - in fact all 3 of my children do and they are all 4 or under. They all eat for England but eat a very wide variety of foods which does include chocolate buttons sometimes....your ex needs to get a grip... sounds like its a good job he's your ex... yes just let her enjoy being a kid and enjoy her food - if you make an issue of it now - it will always be an issue.. good luck

Answer 5

Just be sensible and watch she doesn't have too much cr*p in her diet and she'll be fine - your ex sounds a right bundle of fun. My kids eat chocs/treats and are restricted to having a macdonalds once a month, but they get 5 fruit/veg everyday even if I have to sneak it in! Just be sensible and she should be okay.

You sound as if you have a healthy body weight and look after yourself so I wouldn't worry-kids learn by example so keep up the good work.

Tell your ex that you'll keep an eye on her for a month and if he still thinks that there is a problem, maybe you could both take her to the doctor, who will I'm sure say that she's normal. This should please him, and it'll put your mind at rest.

He sounds a bit of a controlling person, so if he persists in being over anxious about your daughter, explain to him how you felt and does he really want your daughter to feel like you did?

(If all else fails, smack him in the mouth and get a fat person to squash him to death!!!)

Answer 6

to be honest the term 'diet' in this situation might be scewed. Instead of looking at the situation like you are limiting what your child eats, you should consider being more selective. By encouraging healthy eating habits now, your child may carry them on into adulthood.
Just because your child has fat on them when they are only 5 does not mean they have a weight problem. Typically, children have a higher % of body fat until they get closer to their teens, around 9 or 10. At that time the body begins to mature more and more muscle is developed.
However, I don't think that being cautious on what you allow your five year old to eat is a bad thing, rather, it is being a proactive parent.

Answer 7

If she was obese it would be one thing, but you say she's a normal sized child. At her next doctors appoint speak to the doctor about it privately. The dr. can probably give you an honest opinion as to whether your child is overweight to the point it is bad for her health. That being said, it is always good to start healthy lifestyle early in a child's life, bad habits can be hard to change. Make sure you're giving her healthy snacks like fruits and vegetables and not letting her eat a ton of junk food. On the other hand, you should be concerned if her father is one of those people who is going to make her have a complex because of her size noone should feel like their size makes them who they are.

Answer 8

my suggestion is yes we just got done with the major eating holidays where cookies and all was around. but now you can stock up on healthy snacks yes you might get hell for it for a few days or weeks but it works out and you'll figure out when she's eating cause she is actually hungry or if she's eating just because she's bored. Like if she says "mom can i have chips" I'd suggest saying no but you can have an apple or carrot sticks. and let her choose between the two. Also talk with HER doc. kids at the age all grow differently in different ways. I always grow a lil tummy before i had a growing spurt.

Answer 9

I am a fat woman and was a fat child and she doesn't want to grow up like that but you can make her fat if you obsess about food. Keep that text message though, you may need it later to establish that her father is hurting her emotionally and needs his visits to be supervised. Take her to the doc and ask him but don't put her on a diet. Make sure she is offered a variety of good food and lots and lots of fresh fruits and veggies and help her learn to respect her body. Eat if your hungry, exercise daily and especially if you are bored, don't eat only desert but don't never have something fun to eat either. And DO NOT LET HER GROW UP BELIEVING THAT SHE IS WRONG TO LOOK THE WAY SHE DOES. It does not matter what she looks like, what matters is if she is healthy. It won't help but I wouldn't mind telling your husband to kiss off...lol

Answer 10

Don't let him do the same to her that he did to you. He is trying to control her now he cant do it to you. You know if she doesnt fit clothes her age, you are there for her more than him. I would be mad too you poor thing. Does he have a new girlfriend who may be adding flame to the fire? You were very slim at that height, so i cant understand him. I bet she will be tall like you and get a sudden growth spurt and be just right. You know what you are doing, try and let it go over your head there is something else going on here, with that criticism. X

Answer 11

Sounds like she is eating healthy and diet would do no good--besides, girls have enough image complexes without her dad putting her on a "diet". Gather up some nutritional info and give it to the dad.....tell him to never use the word 'diet' around her until she is much much older--and then, only if she is truely overweight and it's bothering HER. Also--get an online growth chart to show him she is in the age appropriate weight range....that should shut him up. Here's a link: http://www.cdc.gov/nchs/data/nhanes/growthcharts/set1clinical/cj41c022.pdf