At a loss....seeking weight loss advice for my 9 year old boy

[Dream Girl]

My son has been heavy since about age 5 and it has been a concern of his doctor, but so far no medical problems. Problem is he is getting heavier and heavier. He is now about 115 pounds. It breaks my heart that we can't find pants that fit him and his wardrobe is stretchy shorts, sweat pants etc. jeans even husky jeans are impossible. He has a huge tummy and stretch marks!! I am at a loss. He is very active. This past fall he was playing three sports (soccer, flag football and water polo). He is a great athlete and loves physical activity like snowboarding and skate boarding and his favorite school activity is recess. He does have a hearty appetite, but we don't eat a bad diet though it could be much, much better. I try to push vegetables and read labels to avoid bad ingredients like high fructose corn syrup, etc. We never have soda in the house although he might get one once a month at parties, traveling, etc He does love to watch tv too and tends to snack while he watches it. This is the one thing that I think could be contributing to his obesity. My husband's two other boys were also quite chubby when they were younger, but slimmed down in their teens. One of them is downright skinny as a young twenty something. His cousins on my hubby's side also showed the same pattern. How worried should I be??? Will he slim down or take after my side of the family which tends to be overweight? I was slim until I hit my forties. ( I am cross posting this to the parents board.)

[Lisa D]

1. I don't have any weight loss advise but...

My son was very chubby at that age and I was worried about his weight too. However, when he hit middle school his height shot waaaay up and he became the skinniest kid in his class. It was like his body was preparing him for a big growth spurt. That may be what's happening with your son.

[wildflower]

2. I ran across this and thought it might be helpful to you

From Michael Pollan's Food Rules...boldface is mine.

#58 Do all your eating at a table.

No, a desk is not a table. If we eat while we're working, or while watching TV or driving, we eat mindlessly -- and as a result eat a lot more than we would if we were eating at a table, paying attention to what we're doing. This phenomenon can be tested (and put to good use): Place a child in front of a television set and place a bowl of fresh vegetables in front of him or her. The child will eat everything in the bowl, often even vegetables that he or she doesn't ordinarily touch, without noticing what's going on. Which suggests an exception to the rule: When eating somewhere other than at a table, stick to fruits and vegetables.

I saw it on http://www.alternet.org/healthwellness/145012/michael_pollan%27s_new_%27food_rules%27%3A_64_easy_steps_to_better_health?page=2

Also, since your son has an apple shape, you may be interested in this article, "Apple-shaped? Dieters' destiny may be in their physiology"...

http://www.usatoday.com/news/health/2007-05-15-diet-types_N.htm

:hi: