[AvadaKedavra]

Does it matter if she's 'overweight' or 'obese'? Fact is she's a bit heavy. Our idea of what kids should look like is warped. You should be able to see kids ribs, not wait until they have a double chin.

I'm sure she eats healthy food, but too many strawberries or cherry tomatoes can cause excess weight gain. At the end of the day it's not about 'weight' or 'body image' - its about conditioning her to reach a point of satiety and to stop eating with less food, so that she can maintain a moderate caloric intake for her whole life.

Good luck, I'm sure the dietitian will be helpful. And don't take it as a personal affront or a judgement on your parenting... I bet you're an awesome mum who has worked really hard to foster a love of healthy food in your beautiful daughter.

[cira]

Body mass index, BMI = mass in kilograms divided by the height in metres squared
= 20/(1.04 X 1.04)
= 18.49

16-18.5 is underweight, 18.5-25 is healthy.

[caesie'n'linc]

I Just checked DS2s BMI on the link posted earlier and it shows him as 'obese' too. DS2 is 3yrs old, weighs 18.5-19.5kg and is 104cm tall. If I put his weight in as 19.5kg (his weight last week when I weighed him after lunch) then he is obese but if I put his weight in as 18.5kg, his weight yesterday when he was washing his hands after going to the toilet (number 2) and before having lunch, then he is a healthy weight.
It's only 1kg difference in weight but a big difference in the results.
DD is obese too...6yrs old, 108cm & 22kg...no idea where the obese part comes from, DD is skinnier than most of the kids in her class, even though she is also taller than them.

My DS2 looks perfectly healthy, I know he eats well and gets plenty of exercise. I haven't even bothered taking him to the CHN since he was a few mths old, I prefer to see my GP, he at least looks at the big picture and doesn't just rely on charts to decide if a child has a weight problem.

Also, if she walks a lot then maybe some of her weight is muscle? I've always been told that muscle weighs more than fat...I have no idea if that's true or not though.

[Guest_holy_j_*]

Body mass index, BMI = mass in kilograms divided by the height in metres squared
= 20/(1.04 X 1.04)
= 18.49

16-18.5 is underweight, 18.5-25 is healthy.

for adults. This is a 2 year old.

[hiccamups]

Would you be willing to post a photo OP?

[EBeditor]

Child bmi is calculated differently cira, a BMI of around 14-18 is considered healthy for a child under 8.

[JoIsMe]

Cira, BMI has different ranges for children. You can't apply adult ones.

I just want to echo MrsN, 3keiki, try not take this personally. It sounds like your dd loves healthy food and does plenty of activity.

[Guest_3Keiki_*]

howls I gotta dash baby waking but I will def consider it. If I feel uncomfortable about doing it live I can simply remove her pretty little face.... promise you all in advance there is no dbl chin
MsN I see what you are saying I do but I sort of have to disagree. I am french polynesian and def take after the french. My brother takes after the polynesian. He was a big chunky kid. Yet we ate the same, exercised the same - well he more than me actually and yes as a child you could see my ribs in his not so much at all. I think shapes are a bit different depending on ethic backgrounds

[Guest_3Keiki_*]

Child bmi is calculated differently cira, a BMI of around 14-18 is considered healthy for a child under 8.

Yes well I am not sure where nurse is getting MORBIDLY obese from as I can't find a single chart that even has MORBIDLY obese on it for a child
Thanks Amber

[cira]

Sorry, I was quoting the BMI ranges for adults.

But I think the OP's child is still borderline healthy NOT morbidly obese- look at the graph by the calculator, it starts at age 2 on the left.
at age 2 BMI 14.5 - 18 is healthy (green)
BMI 18 - 19 is overweight (yellow)
Anything over 19 is obese (red)

I'd talk to a dietician but I'm guessing the OP's child is fine.

This post has been edited by cira: 27/07/2012, 11:18 PM