I'm not sure if this is the correct board to post this question but here goes. My 3 1/2 yr. old grandaughter weighs almost 50 lbs. She doesn't eat a lot but she is not as active as some her age. Her mother is aware of it and has talked to the pediatrician about it. He said she is 10 lbs. over what she should be and he doesn't put 3 1/2 yr. olds on diets. He did tell her to try to offer healthy foods - fruit, fat free milk, etc. whcih she does. She doesn't eat an unusual amount of food when she is with me which is one reason why I'm so concerned.It makes me wonder if there is some metabolic problem here.
When I attempt to pick her up it is difficult. She is very heavy. Feels more like 75 lbs. than 50 !!
Has anyone out there had any experience with this ???
I am open to all suggestions, ideas.

Jana 65

Hi hon. You really don't want to put her on any diet at all. And offering only healthy food is a great start. She might not be use to it but she will get use to it if that is all there is to eat. But most importantly get her active. The best thing I think is soccer. They are running around like crazy. And it helps them with being in a team sport. I know it is winter but they do offer winter soccer. In my town they have indoor soccer and they are really great with the kids and they have fun. If she doesn't like soccer maybe skating, walking anything to get her active. They have to start out young and that should build it for an active future. I don't think you have anything to worry about right now but she should be moving around alot. My DD is just the oppisite she is so thin and tall. She is almost 5. I have problems finding stuff that fits her. But when she was a toddler she was a chubby thing until she got active. She started skating at 2 and started playing soccer at 2 1/2. And she loves it. She was shy at first but now she can't wait to play any team sport. Right now she is playing hockey in a grils hockey leauge and counts how many sleeps she has until she plays again. Hope you can get her into some activity, hope that helps Sherri :)

Thanks Sherri,
I didn't mention that she has a gym class ( that she loves ! ) and she takes a dance class. She is just not a real active child. Thanks though for sharing your thoughts...

Jana65

I'm wondering if it's possible at this age for her to have a thyroid problem? That is all I can think of. Or could she maybe be more muscle than most kids her age? I just wonder b/c when I was that age I had huge pudgy cheeks and big calves and my mom was told by the school nurse that I was overweight...even though I wasn't...I was just SOLID! lol. Just a couple of ideas I thought I'd throw out there.

A diet means going on South Beach, no fat, and all that crazy stuff that doesn't work anyways. I would CHANGE HER DIET. Meaning, a person should be eating organically, food without pesticides, herbicides, additives, and other harmful chemicals. Americans eat a lot of processed, out of the box type of food. Our bodies do not process chemicals well and build up in the body. Children in general do not get the exercise as children once did. I would really analyze the diet and exercise of the child, people seem to assume that because a child is overweight it means something medically is wrong, although possible, usually it is the lifestyle. Is her mother or father overweight? That is a good indicator it may be the lifestyle=food and exercise.

Hi Alex,
As a matter of fact, obesity does run in her father's family. His aunt recently had the gastric bypass surgery. None of them, as far as we know, were as pudgy as she is, at this age.
Thanks for all the great tips, also the other person who mentioned a thyroid problem. I think in the coming months her parents will be looking at some of these ideas.

Jana65

I know a lot of people do not want to admit that their childs weight is really an issue, or they want to think something wrong is medically because admitting that weight is because of your decisions you have made for the child are hard to own up to. Many times, the parents may have weight issues too. The most important thing is to be healthy! Already a good 1/2 of Americans have some sort of chronic health issue and the numbers keep rising. I think it is because of the chemically laden food we eat, drink, beauty products we bathe and slather ourselves with, and computers, tv's replacing outdoor time. Also, many parents are working and are not home to feed their children and all of these issues are adding up to having this weight epidemic in this country. It is really about making family a number one priority and living healthy. But, is SOME cases, there may be a real medical issue. Please let us know how it goes and best if luck to your family, I hope everything gets sorted out! :)

Does she take medications? Too much iodine can interfere with the thyroid. It is in some foods and medications.

Just to say I know what you are going through! My DD, 16 y/o, was/is the same way. She started gaining around the age of 3 and has not stopped. We have been through every test/doctor possible. My husband's father is obese but his started later in life. My husband, myself and eldest daughter are not thin, but around 10 pounds overweight, enough for us.
We're still looking for answers. It's as if everything she has eaten her whole life is still with her! And up until about a year ago, was very active in sports, dance, etc.
Best of luck; know it's not always easy for find anwers!

I just want to throw in one thing that often gets overlooked in the child obesity discussions: Adequate sleep. Children and adults who are chronically sleep-deprived are more likely to be obese. The reason is, sleep deprivation increases levels of stress hormones, which in turn increase appetite, making it harder to match calorie intake to calorie needs.

It's not the whole answer, but it's a piece of the puzzle in some cases.