Grrrrr my DS

mildred1978

nzmegs wrote: »

While you are investigating the options for your son and trying to find out about the best types of diet, you should read up on the amount of sugars added to diet foods and the effect they can have on our bodies. Insulin levels are what controls the amount of fat we store. regularly increasing the amount of insulin in our blood will increase weight and eventually our insulin receptors get "tired" and no longer regulate our blood sugars correctly. They release more and more insulin and we get fatter. After this you get diabetes.

And research has shown that artificial sweetners can actually cause us to want more sugar rather than less. I'd avoid options and other 'diet' foods like the plague. What's wrong with normal food, controlled carbs and smaller portions?

Nicki

mildred1978 wrote: »

Not sure what you thought you were going to get tbh. Have you answered the numerous questions about exercise? If you did I must have missed it.

Yes you missed it. I said he did karate twice a week, and in addition we were getting him to do 30 mins card work a day. That could be riding his bike, swimming, bouncing on trampoline, doing an exercise video, etc. Yesterday, it comprised an hour's water fight at a council run activity. He ran for the whole hour. I saw him!

patchwork_cat

Sorry I am going to go against everyone and say that with a BMI of 29 at 11 I am sorry to say that your DS is very overweight for his age. BMI in children is not the same as adults and I am surprised that the school nurse talked in terms of BMI and not percentile the NHS website talks about percentile. I think you should see your GP as this does need addressing and not all teens grow into their weight.

jayII

patchwork_cat wrote: »

Sorry I am going to go against everyone and say that with a BMI of 29 at 11 I am sorry to say that your DS is very overweight for his age. BMI in children is not the same as adults and I am surprised that the school nurse talked in terms of BMI and not percentile the NHS website talks about percentile. I think you should see your GP as this does need addressing and not all teens grow into their weight.

I agree with patchwork cat. 29 is a very high BMI at the age of 11, and really does need to be addressed!

Nikki, have you taken him to your GP for a referral to a dietician?

Nicki

mildred1978 wrote: »

Not sure what you thought you were going to get tbh.

As the original post was a rant about his attitude, some tips on how to motivate him would have been nice. Or some tips on how to keep my sanity whilst guiding him through this process would also have been good.

Patchwork is right. He is too overweight for his own good. I think the letter from the nurse did quote the centile as well, but I cant remember what that was. Over 85% I think . It DOES need addressing, and we are doing so as best we can, but the complaints are hard to handle sometimes when I'm making a huge effort to cook meals he will enjoy and to offer non food rewards for sticking to the plan.

Nicki

jayII wrote: »

I agree with patchwork cat. 29 is a very high BMI at the age of 11, and really does need to be addressed!

Nikki, have you taken him to your GP for a referral to a dietician?

No, not yet. If I can't get him to stick to the plan, I will have to do. I wanted though to try to get him on board with understanding healthy eating and exercise, and not stigmatize him too much by making it a medical issue with GPs and dieticians on board. Someone earlier accused me of giving him a complex about his appearance, but that is what I am desperately trying to avoid

mildred1978

Nicki wrote: »

I think the letter from the nurse did quote the centile as well, but I cant remember what that was. Over 85% I think .

All that means is that if 100 children of the same age were lined up your son would be the 85th. There would be 15 children heavier than him.

Nicki

mildred1978 wrote: »

All that means is that if 100 children of the same age were lined up your son would be the 85th. There would be 15 children heavier than him.

Thank you very much. Being university educated, I do understand what a centile is, but your clear explanation is nonetheless appreciated.

As childhood obesity rates are running rampant in the UK (25% for boys) being in the top 15% of children his age is cause for action, no?

jayII

Nicki wrote: »

As the original post was a rant about his attitude, some tips on how to motivate him would have been nice. Or some tips on how to keep my sanity whilst guiding him through this process would also have been good.

Patchwork is right. He is too overweight for his own good. I think the letter from the nurse did quote the centile as well, but I cant remember what that was. Over 85% I think . It DOES need addressing, and we are doing so as best we can, but the complaints are hard to handle sometimes when I'm making a huge effort to cook meals he will enjoy and to offer non food rewards for sticking to the plan.

What are you doing now to motivate him? What sort of things does he enjoy doing?

At that age my DS sould have been motivated by trips to theme parks, to other exciting venues, like skate parks, forests, and so on. By saving up for models (Warhammer) that he collected, and 'game' cards.

TV and other electronic gadgets were strictly limited in our house until both kids were 14+.

In your position, I'd limit TV etc, and take him out for walks, cycle rides, swimming and other activities as much as possible. I'd also try to get the whole family onto a healthy diet, on the principle that it's too hard for an 11 year old to watch others having snack foods/sweets and not be allowed them himself.

A good dietician (via your GP) should also give you advice on suporting your son and coping yourself.

Nicki

Thanks JayII. His dad and I are both following the same plan as he is, and we log our food together every night and compare how much exercise we have done. His brother and sister have exactly the same meals as he does and don't snack in front of him, but are allowed snacks as they both tend to be underweight.

We've promised him football tickets for 6 weeks good compliance (doesn't have to be perfect but needs to be a good effort). And we will be taking them swimming weekly from now on. Cycle rides are tricky as a family as his DD 10 has learning difficulties and can't ride but is too heavy to go on the back of an adults bike. Walking though is an option.