https://boards.hellobee.com/ Pregnancy, Baby and Parenting blog, by Hellobee en Tue, 26 May 2026 12:51:36 +0000 https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/cdc-says-my-kid-is-obese#post-2888100 Wed, 19 Jun 2019 00:22:03 +0000 Sapphiresun 2888100@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>That calculator is pretty sensitive. My 5 year old is 48" tall, but I haven't weighed her in a while. I put in her most recent weight from when I last had her at the dr, and it had her at 13th percentile, so I figured maybe she gained a pound or so, and that bumped her up to 76th! With that much sensitivity, it could be as much as wearing heavier clothes/shoes, or a differently calibrated scale. Not really worth getting too worked up about I don't think. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/cdc-says-my-kid-is-obese#post-2888051 Tue, 18 Jun 2019 12:46:29 +0000 Mrsbells 2888051@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>@Hypatia: honestly I wouldn't even put their info in that calculator. I think when it comes to kids their pediatrician that sees them in person on a regular basis is the best judge of how they are doing weightwise. So many different things affect weight that I wouldn't make any diet changes just based on that.<br /> In terms of her wearing size 8 and 9 has she always been several sizes ahead? </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/cdc-says-my-kid-is-obese#post-2887897 Sat, 15 Jun 2019 21:15:14 +0000 maddyz 2887897@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>This put my skinnier almost 3 year old as over weight and my huge 4 year old as %12. It just doesn't make sense. They both "stock up" before they grow and I think that's healthy. </p> <p>Talk to your doctor if you are early worried. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/cdc-says-my-kid-is-obese#post-2887204 Fri, 07 Jun 2019 13:55:44 +0000 skinnycow 2887204@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>@Anagram: Your younger daughter is built very similar to mine (she's also 38 lbs). She's also very food motivated - constantly asking for snacks and asks for food as a reward often. It'll be interesting to see if my second kid is the same or not. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/cdc-says-my-kid-is-obese#post-2887175 Fri, 07 Jun 2019 11:57:16 +0000 Beebeeholiday 2887175@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>This calculator puts my first two girls in the 3rd and 6th percentiles, respectively, with a BMI of 13. It puts my third in the 60th percentile, with a BMI of 15.</p> <p>All three girls are healthy and strong and the first two just happen to be leaner. I feed them as much as I can but they’re just little string beans. 🤷🏻‍♀️</p> <p>I wouldn’t worry about it at all unless your ped is concerned. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/cdc-says-my-kid-is-obese#post-2887115 Fri, 07 Jun 2019 08:37:11 +0000 smuckers 2887115@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>Just popping in to say that carbs aren't evil, especially for kids! Your daughter looks perfectly normal; if I saw her on the street I would probably just think she looked adorable and healthy, not overweight. If you're really concerned, talk to her pediatrician. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/cdc-says-my-kid-is-obese#post-2887061 Thu, 06 Jun 2019 20:26:24 +0000 helloperidot 2887061@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>So, I recently was working with a nutritionist as I have chronic health issues and want to address them through diet. She and I got to talking about my kiddos one day; I think she was just trying to get a sense of my approach to nutrition for others vs. nutrition for myself. Anyway, one of the things she said that stuck with me is that kids run on carbs. It's what their little bodies need! I wouldn't worry too much about what you're feeding them now, it sounds like they get lots of opportunity to fill up on proteins too. Also, my pediatrician has told me time and time again that BMI for kiddos is a junk measurement. I'm sure if your pedi was concerned they would say something.</p> <p>I try really hard to teach "moderation, not deprivation". I dont want my kids to equate food and worth. We do talk a lot about fueling our bodies, building our muscles for our activities, etc.</p> <p>Side note-- for those who think their breakfasts are "too carby" but kids want an Eggo, Kodiak Cakes now has frozen waffles and pancakes. I've found it's an easy way to sneak.in protein when my kiddos are being picky. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/cdc-says-my-kid-is-obese#post-2887041 Thu, 06 Jun 2019 18:18:36 +0000 Calibee 2887041@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>This calculator says my daughter is in the 7th percentile. I have a hard time believing that—she looks pretty “average” to me! At this age, kids are growing and changing so rapidly—it’s hard to account for growth spurts (and times when my kid eats nonstop right before a growth spurt....). </p> <p>If your dr. isn’t concerned, I wouldn’t be either! </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/cdc-says-my-kid-is-obese#post-2887026 Thu, 06 Jun 2019 16:44:32 +0000 Hypatia 2887026@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>@ShootingStar: My DH and I are keto, so while we don’t have our kids eat keto, it does have a ripple effect. A typical dinner would be bell peppers stuffed with ricotta and mozzarella cheese, chicken or ground hamburger, onions, peppers, and mushrooms. The kids would get a side of mashed potatoes and some cornbread or rolls. We generally share the same keto main dish and then they get extra fruit, veggies, or bread (sometimes we share keto friendly sides like broccoli or green beans, or we serve them keto bread if we are making it for ourselves). </p> <p>I feel pretty good about our lunch and dinner, but breakfast is usually some kind of carb (cereal, cinnamon toast, waffles or oatmeal). The afternoon snack is almost always carb heavy: goldfish, apples, oranges, granola bars, applesauce, cookies. Sometimes carrots or string cheese, but mostly carbs. I guess it’s because we don’t eat those meals with our kids, and carbs are convenience foods. Maybe we should pare down that stuff and stick to veggies, whole fruits, and cheeses. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/cdc-says-my-kid-is-obese#post-2886981 Thu, 06 Jun 2019 14:05:46 +0000 Anagram 2886981@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>@Hypatia: here are my girls. My almost-4 year old is on the right; my almost 6 year old is on the left. They are 37 and 38 lbs respectively. </p> <p>I do feel like my 3 year old get too much junky foods—like processed carbs. Because she constantly begs for it. It’s just a different situation from my oldest who just doesn’t ever really ask, and is happy enough to eat whatever I give her. My oldest is also more adventurous with eating, and my youngest is still in the “white carbs pickiness” stage. We don’t limit foods or talk about bad foods, but we do talk a lot about growing foods and healthfulness, because I have 2 autoimmune diseases and a scary genetic proclivity for cancer (lynch syndrome, it’s awful), and a lot of the things I deal either are made worse by being overweight. So I worry about my own health, and worry about my girls since they will potentially inherit these things from me. We eat pretty healthfully, but snacks could stand to be cleaned up a little.</p> <p>[attach=2976/19/psoydn.600x434.643D4905-70FB-4AF9-9EDD-CF4D241F407C.jpeg] </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/cdc-says-my-kid-is-obese#post-2886978 Thu, 06 Jun 2019 13:49:46 +0000 Mrs. Carrot 2886978@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>@graceandjoy @hypatia Same! She's beautiful! </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/cdc-says-my-kid-is-obese#post-2886972 Thu, 06 Jun 2019 13:21:22 +0000 graceandjoy 2886972@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>@Hypatia: Uggh how cute. FWIW, just looking at her I would NEVER even remotely link her to being overweight... </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/cdc-says-my-kid-is-obese#post-2886969 Thu, 06 Jun 2019 13:14:38 +0000 Hypatia 2886969@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>Thank you, I’ve been given a lot to think about—here’s a picture in case it helps (the five year old on the left is the one I’ve been talking about). </p> [attach=8948/19/psow0u.450x600.37C78420-43BB-4059-AF32-DCAC977AE8EC.jpeg] https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/cdc-says-my-kid-is-obese#post-2886968 Thu, 06 Jun 2019 13:02:24 +0000 skinnycow 2886968@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>@graceandjoy: @KT326: Thank you! :happy: </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/cdc-says-my-kid-is-obese#post-2886957 Thu, 06 Jun 2019 11:05:35 +0000 ShootingStar 2886957@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>I think if you take a hard look at what you're feeding her. Do you think there's a problem? In general I think people should ignore BMI for kids. Their bodies change a ton as they grow. My kids both have gone through skinny and chubby phases. </p> <p>But that's not to say there might not be a problem with the food she's taking in. DS had a classmate last year who had a serious weight problem. Not just a little tummy like my DD has. And from what I know of that family I'm pretty sure they weren't making a lot of healthy decisions. I think they were setting up their DD to have a lifetime of weight issues.</p> <p>But I think if you're eating a normal balanced diet, then her body is just doing what her body's doing and it'll keep changing. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/cdc-says-my-kid-is-obese#post-2886955 Thu, 06 Jun 2019 11:03:29 +0000 KT326 2886955@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>@Hypatia: for a reference here is my son on his 7th birthday. He has a bit of a tummy but his uncle (DH’s half brother who is only 9 years older) had the same exact body type and lost the belly probably around the time puberty hit. </p> <p>@skinnycow: she is a cutie! </p> [attach=1482/19/psopxt.450x600.EE31CAB8-81EB-43BA-98A3-AB79B84E90DB.jpeg] https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/cdc-says-my-kid-is-obese#post-2886953 Thu, 06 Jun 2019 10:31:34 +0000 Mrs. Carrot 2886953@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>@Hypatia: Also meant to add (sorry, this is a big soapbox for me) - weight is not in any way a measure of good eating and activity habits. Bodies are just different and weight doesn't matter. There is so much science out there that shows that any kind of restriction and limiting of food is more detrimental long term than just letting people of any age eat what they want however they want and stop when they're full. Kids are good at this but they usually lose that intuitive instinct because parents start limiting foods and/or assigning value to food (good broccoli, bad cookie). As a lifelong dieter, I actually noticed this in myself when I stopped tracking and restricting and dieting this year and started just eating and trying really hard to listen to my body that my body knows, I just need to listen. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/cdc-says-my-kid-is-obese#post-2886947 Thu, 06 Jun 2019 09:11:42 +0000 graceandjoy 2886947@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>@skinnycow: She is a cutie :happy: </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/cdc-says-my-kid-is-obese#post-2886942 Thu, 06 Jun 2019 08:46:04 +0000 Mrs. Carrot 2886942@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>Mine too, and I refuse to care. I posted here a few months ago as I was obsessing about this because she has a tummy and I was noticing myself (a lifelong fat girl on some sort of diet/body modification crusade) starting to obsess about her. And I had to check myself really hard before I started creating body image issues for my kid because I do not want her to live the life that I did, constantly thinking something is wrong with her. Here's a link to my post . <a href="https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/5-year-old-weight-gain#post-2857974" rel="nofollow">https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/5-year-old-weight-gain#post-2857974</a> and to the blog I wrote a little while back on where the journey is now taking me <a href="https://www.hellobee.com/2019/03/28/embracing-body-positivity/" rel="nofollow">https://www.hellobee.com/2019/03/28/embracing-body-positivity/</a> </p> <p>Like others have said, BMI is a useless tool, and weight and body size are not a metric of health and I personally am working very hard to uncouple those things and do everything in my power to make sure that my kid grows up realizing that everyone's bodies are different and that's ok and there's no right or wrong way to be. Even if your daughter looked fat, like mine does at times, I think it's our job to make that just as fine of a way to be as if she was skinny. Because it is. I grew up a fat kid and I was constantly told how "wrong" I was. My kid is not likely to ever be skinny, and I don't want her to ever think that she's "wrong" or that thinner/skinnier is better. </p> <p>I've become a bit of an evangelist on this so my apologies if I sound at all forceful. I've read some great books recently, including The Eating Instinct, Intuitive Eating and the Ellyn Satter book on kids and eating and it all really helped me walk away from focusing on bodies and think more about good habits like letting my kid decide what to eat, how much to eat, when to stop based on her own signals and how to teach her to find a healthy balance and not stigmatize food. My technically overweight 6 year old is a very healthy eater, a very active kid and still has lots of growing and developing to do and all kinds of awful societal norms to deal with (like her teacher telling her that french fries are bad for you) so I want to be a force for good in her life, not additional stigma. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/cdc-says-my-kid-is-obese#post-2886936 Thu, 06 Jun 2019 08:27:46 +0000 catgirl 2886936@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>My DD has had two pediatricians, both track and monitor BMI but don't consider it especially useful until puberty (and even then it is looked at as part of a bigger picture). Kids tend to grow in weird spurts that makes BMI really sensitive - for example my DD has grown almost three inches since September but only one and a half pounds. </p> <p>I think it's important to pay attention to weight as kids age but when they are young the most important things are giving them healthy foods the majority of the time and keeping them active. If your doctor ever brings it up as an issue I'm sure they will also bring up ways to help. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/cdc-says-my-kid-is-obese#post-2886933 Thu, 06 Jun 2019 08:09:28 +0000 Anagram 2886933@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>I've posted about my 2 girls before, since they are so different and raised in the same environment. I pack all their lunches and snacks for school, so they basically have 80% of all food controlled by me and DH (our sitter gives them after school snacks and often picks something unhealthy--she'll even buy it with her own money). And yet. My 5 years and 11 months old girl is (according to your calculator) 20% for weight with a BMI of 14.2, and my 3 year, 10 month old girl is "overweight" by half a pound, with a BMI of 18.5 and is in the 92% for weight for her age. They weigh almost the same, but my oldest is 2 years older.</p> <p>This is actually consistent with their doctors appointments. </p> <p>Anyway, I've posted about it before. We definitely try to offer healthier foods most of the time, and other junk/snacks in moderation. But the fact is, my kids are different. They have different body types, and my oldest is not food motivated at all (like she's the type that can "forget to eat") and my youngest is extremely food motivated (goes to the pantry, screaming "snack!" "snack!" about 8 times a day").</p> <p>Basically, my oldest daughter is similar to my husband (who also "forgets" to eat) and my youngest is like me. haha. Even when my youngest was 100% breast fed before starting solids, she was 98% for weight, and only 50% for height. Girl just loves to eat. However, with half my adult siblings struggling with obesity, and the direct correlation between obesity and health issues, of course it's something I want to keep an eye on for her health. </p> <p>I mean, at some point the BMI will matter--maybe your doctor can give you some guidance on when. But unless a kiddo is weightlifting, or is an elite athlete that works out all the time, then BMI is a decent indicator of obesity vs healthy weight range. I do have an adult mom friend who does those fitness competitions, and she is ripped and is constantly working out, doesn't eat carbs half the year, literally is in the gym up to 3 hours a day.....she always posts about how BMIs are crap and she would be overweight if her doctor when by BMI. But I asked her once after one of those rants how much she weighs when she's not cutting carbs for a competition, and she said 155. She's 5'7 and I'm 5'7, so I know 155 is not considered Obese, although I think 155-157 is considered borderline. And in her case, it really is all muscle. Even if she weighed 165 with her current workout regiment, she would be all muscle. If I put my 165 pound body next to her in a bikini (hahaha! I would never) you would have a real life example of how 165 at 5'7 can be healthy or 165 at 5'7 can be a good 20 lbs over ideal. Anyway, I guess what I'm saying is, I think the BMI probably applies unless you (general you) are ripped and being ripped is a visible thing. I haven't worked out in probably a year and a half....and it shows. I'm like 3 sizes bigger than my friend who weights 10 lbs less than me. And we're the same height.</p> <p>I'm just musing. The whole American weight thing is definitely a societal phenomenon. Statistically. So I don't want to have blinders about how it's affecting my family. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/cdc-says-my-kid-is-obese#post-2886927 Thu, 06 Jun 2019 07:45:15 +0000 skinnycow 2886927@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>I posted something similar a few months ago and many people commented reassuring me. According to that calculator my daughter has a BMI of 17.6 which is overweight.</p> <p>She's tall and has always been bigger than other kids her age. I try not to stress about it too much - we make healthy choices with her so I think she's just a big kid. Here's a picture of her for reference. She's big but doesn't seem overweight to me (but could be my mom blinders as well). </p> [attach=7705/19/psogrg.600x572.IMG_0176.jpg] https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/cdc-says-my-kid-is-obese#post-2886910 Wed, 05 Jun 2019 23:19:53 +0000 poppygirl15 2886910@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>I'm not a Dr, but like @kt326 said, it was my understanding that BMI wasn't really used heavily for kids? Like, it's considered, but not the say all be all? I would mention it to your dr and see what s/he says. That way, you know if it's something you need to address or not! </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/cdc-says-my-kid-is-obese#post-2886886 Wed, 05 Jun 2019 20:41:33 +0000 Becky 2886886@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>Like others said, I wouldn’t be concerned. As long as you are eating well and being active there’s not a whole lot you can do. I know plenty of people and kids who eat well and are active and are overweight. Kids bodies do change a lot and it’s also really weird figuring out how to navigate it when their bodies are different than yours, or when siblings have different body types (my younger DD is a peanut and the older one is solid). </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/cdc-says-my-kid-is-obese#post-2886884 Wed, 05 Jun 2019 20:26:25 +0000 azaela 2886884@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>This calculator is very sensitive apparently. I put in my estimates for my son and it had him as underweight, 3rd percentile. If I adjust by 1/2 an inch and 1/2 a pound he is normal in the 10th percentile. I don't know his exact height - around 45 inches and his weight fluctuates between 40 &amp; 42. At 40 even he is underweight but 40.5 he is fine. 🤷 I couldn't imagine him being 15 lbs heavier though but his frame is so small he would be obese at that weight. So much depends on bone structure/body shape. It's not all about the numbers. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/cdc-says-my-kid-is-obese#post-2886880 Wed, 05 Jun 2019 20:10:03 +0000 KT326 2886880@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>According to that my 7 year old son is obese. He’s not. Yes he has a bit of a tummy but we just saw a new pediatrician and she isn’t concerned at all. He’s 52” tall and weighs roughly 73 lbs. Our old pediatrician said BMI for kids is pretty much useless. As long as they are eating a healthy diet and getting a variety of veggies and fruits they are fine. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/cdc-says-my-kid-is-obese#post-2886878 Wed, 05 Jun 2019 19:44:59 +0000 pinkb 2886878@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>I don’t go by BMI. My DD was borderline normal/ over weight at her check up when the Dr mentioned it. I don’t want to give her an unhealthy view of her body and weight. We have taught her to make healthy choices ( everyday foods vs sometimes foods/treats) and to excercise because that is what keeps your body healthy. I have seen her body change so much, it gets a bit heavier and then grows an inch overnight it seems. If she was eating unhealthy things in excess and not getting enough play/ excercise time then I would try and change things to be healthier. But it’s a slippery slope to me when dealing with kids because I wouldn’t want to start an unhealthy relationship for them with their weight or food. (It might happen anyway in life but I wouldn’t want to start it) </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/cdc-says-my-kid-is-obese#post-2886874 Wed, 05 Jun 2019 19:01:42 +0000 Kemma 2886874@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>The problem with BMI is that it was never designed to be used for individuals! I believe it was originally developed to measure populations because it doesn’t take in to account ethnicity etc. It can be useful as a diagnostic tool when looked at in conjunction with other measures but it’s not much good on its own. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/cdc-says-my-kid-is-obese#post-2886872 Wed, 05 Jun 2019 18:50:25 +0000 Hypatia 2886872@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>@Pollywog: I hadn’t, but I checked it out and I like her advice! I guess what makes me scratch my head is that we already do a lot of that—we eat together at the table, rarely drink anything but water, start with small portions, etc. So it leaves me wondering if we need to take additional steps to reduce caloric or carb content, or if we should just keep on doing what we’re doing. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/cdc-says-my-kid-is-obese#post-2886871 Wed, 05 Jun 2019 18:49:58 +0000 erinbaderin 2886871@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>I don’t really know - I think that if your doctor isn’t concerned and your daughter is active you’re probably ok? The calculator puts my son right on the line between underweight and healthy weight, with a BMI of 13.8 and in the 5th percent, but he is teeny - he’s also 5, but he’s 3’4” and 33lbs. </p>