When should it become a big deal??

This morning on The Early Show, they had their doctor lady on, and she was talking about an increase in the number of overweight BABIES (under 6 months). When do you think we should start worrying about 'fixing' our overweight kids?


Personally, I think the next f'n generation is going to have a HUGE weight complex if we keep this up. I think that good parenting is about teaching our children proper nutrition in the first place, and keeping them out from in front of the boob tube 12 hours a day. I guess I'm just irritated that the big bad doctors with their perfect bodies and their scientific theories are trying to dictate to me as a MOTHER that I should be concerned about my child being "at risk for overweight" when she's SIX FRIGGIN MONTHS OLD. I don't believe our children would have an issue with obesity if we got them out of the house and taught them that nectarines and frozen grapes really DO taste better than chocolate at LEAST 75% of the time :giggle

Maybe this should have gone in vent...but I really want to know if I'm just 'out there' with this, or if there are people that agree with me - I say let a baby eat and grow - teach them proper nutrition - play outdoors with them - let them learn to love exersize, be it soccer, tball, skateboarding, whatEVER...but damn - leave the babies alone. Pick on somebody your own size...

Most eating habits are learned. For example: Ethan isn't allowed Juice. So...since he has never had it he doesn't want it....He prefers water....Ethan is given fruit and or a veggie at each meal. Alot of times he will eat only that.

The problem with saying you need to start at 6 months is a little dumb. Mainly because yesm you start solid foods then but they are foods good for you. And most PEDS will tell you to feed your baby til they are full. Then you have toddlers. Who are learning to feed themselves independantly. Who are very picky eaters. Who only eat a little of this and a little of that. The TV is on for him. He usually watches half an episode of Sesame street and 1 episode of blue clues. But I use the TV for background noise. The rest of the time he is playing. We play, we do art, we go for walks, gymboree, out etc. He LOVES the outdoors.

Now..I think where it can become a problem is say around kindergarten or first grade. Alot of parents are allowing their kids to play a ton of video games, watch a ton of tv and the kids do not ever have to go outside to play like we did when kids. This is where the parent needs to step in and make SURE the meals or nutritional, make SURE their child is outside playing when able, getting exercise and the like. Now YES there are kids who do have problems with their metabolisms etc. and that makes them overweight. But....Alot do not have that problem.

Ethan is tall and thin. He is very active and he eats decent for a toddler. As long as I stay on that path then I think all is well. I think it is my job to do this. I am there to teach, love, nurture etc him. The Dr's are there to guide me if I have questions. 6 months is a little young to worry about any of this. Heck I think 3 is too young. I think as long as we make sure our children are eating as well as they can and are active then there are no problems

What do they define as overweight at 6 months? My baby was in the 15th percentile weight when she was born and now at 4 months is in the 90th. Does that mean she's overweight because of rapid weight gain? how could anyone determine that? i don't force feed her. she is just starting to eat solid food and she isn't walking yet.

it's true. teach your kids when it's applicable about correct eating habits and activities that involve movement. how am i supposed to do that to a 4 month old? should i just let her cry when she's hungry because i think she's eaten too much today? ugh. i hear ya.

They were saying that kids in the 85-95th percentile are "at risk for being overweight" and anything above that is "overweight".

So what's overweight in babies? 75th percentile and higher, or what?
ETA: nm....I see the above post.

They were saying that kids in the 85-95th percentile are "at risk for being overweight" and anything above that is "overweight".

that's what the doctor was saying about babies. Sorry...kids, babies, they all run together for me :rofl

Well..I'd like to see them tell a 6 month old to go outside and play to work off some of that food :rolleyes Most babies have baby fat. They grow into it. I have pics (as I know most of you do too) where my guy had baby pudge and looked like a baby. Now the pudge is gone and he looks like a big boy...its called baby fat for a reason....People crack me up. Lets start riding our kids about their weight at 6 months old.

When my dd was born, she was 2 1/2 months premature weighing a mere 2.5 pounds. Everyday was such a positive event if she had gained even a half an ounce. Problem is once she started to grow she never really stopped. Dd has struggled all her life with a weight issue. She is medically sound and her habits are in tact. I sometimes think that there are some people who are just large. Simply that.
God bless everyone. The key is to teach self confidence as well as good habits. My daughter is a beautiful girl and she KNOWS it. She deals with her issues better than most and she has a very positive attitude. She is a healthy teenager and that matters the most.

Shoot, I better go start the training drills with Rhianen. Hmm.. guess I'll have to look for a miniature elliptical machine. :rofl Ridiculous.

well most babies will lose their baby fat as they start getting more active. so i wouldnt worry about it Becca. we have the opposite problem with Robbie. he does eat but he doesnt eat a whole lot sometimes either. they feed him nutritious food at daycare and we feed him good things at home too but he does get some not so great stuff either for treats. but he doesnt have a weight problem yet and he is almost 4 years old. he is very active and when he does watch TV its hard for him to sit there at times and just watch, he sometimes will play with his toys while watching TV so i dont think he has a problem yet, he may down the road if we dont keep on top of it. i think some of those drs need to lay off.

Shoot, I better go start the training drills with Rhianen. Hmm.. guess I'll have to look for a miniature elliptical machine. :rofl Ridiculous.


:rofl

I can remember 6 or so years ago watching Maury Povich and there were parents feeding babies under a year big macs and fries. These babies were huge :shock I have noticed now a days that more people are giving their children table foods (not home made baby food) earlier and earlier. And a lot of parents are giving their kids things like french fries as a good portion of their meal before 1 year even.

I am guilty of letting my children suck on a french fry or 2 after they eat their food while we finish ours when they were about 8-9 months and on up. I truly believe that babies eating only baby food will end up being just fine by the age of three. But again there are some parents who buy more baby snacks then fruits and veggies.

I guess the big thing here is that some parents are not watching what they feed their babies. Anything to fill them up. If you are giving your baby healthy foods and they are little chunkers (which is very cute) then I would not be worried unless say your 7 month old weighed 30+lbs and was less than 30 inches.

Well, my DS has always been at or above the 95th percentile for H/W. He was born at 9 lbs 15 oz! He was always short and chunky. A couple of years ago, he started chunking up more and more fairly quickly and the doc decided to talk to me about diets, nutrition, etc. I told the doc to wait till he went through a growth spurt and see what happens then and a year or so ago, I ended up with this:

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v492/Laurie119/Retirement041.jpg

A tall lanky kid who's pants won't stay up....LOL.

So then I think it's safe to say that my thoughts that we should let babies be babies are more or less right on point.


Laurie, you guys look great - and Steve looks VERY happy. :)

I think anything before 3 or 4 is WAY too early. I mean, as long as you're watching nutrition and activity, that is. Both my kids have stayed in the 100th percentile for weight since birth. They are just big, healthy kids. Now that Jaxon is approaching 4 years old and is NONSTOP, he has lost a TON of his baby weight. That's what usually happens around that age. So, to say any baby is going to be overweight or even prone to being overweight at 6 months or a year or even 2 or 3 years is a little ridiculous, IMO. The process of growing and going from infant to crawler to walker to runner to more activity then high acitivity will normally eventually slim them down. When a baby is starting to eat tablefoods and has no real source of exercise (because they can't walk yet :nutts ), of course they are going to be thicker and chubbier. Aren't babies SUPPOSED to be a little chubby? Isn't that why they call it "baby fat"? I mean, of course red flags would go up if a child is just absolutely ENORMOUS and having a hard time moving or something. But a chunky kid under the age of 3 or 4 really shouldn't send any red flags up, IMO. Most kids will slim way down as they start school, play outside more, learn about new healthy foods, go through growth spurts, etc.

I do realize there is a problem with obesity these days, but I don't think it's because we aren't worrying enough about our babies. I think it's mostly due to bigger portions and more processed foods which are usually consumed as we get older. As long as you're making sure your child is eating healthy and getting exercise, I really think worrying about it and trying to diagnose a child as prone to being obese at 6 months is going to do more harm than good. Just let them be kids :nutts

Laurie, you guys look great - and Steve looks VERY happy. :)

Thanks Bec, and Steve was VERY drunk in that pic......LMAO. It was at his retirement reception.......LMAO.

:lmao No WONDER he looks so happy :rofl

I say let a baby eat and grow - teach them proper nutrition - play outdoors with them - let them learn to love exersize, be it soccer, tball, skateboarding, whatEVER...but damn - leave the babies alone. Pick on somebody your own size...
:yes :yes Teach them to be active & athletic & to eat properly!

i agree most eating habits are learned but sometimes children are just born heavy and are just genetically heavier (think queen latifa (sp?)--she'd look weird at what society considers an ideal weight. plus she's beautiful the way she is). juice is okay imo as long as it is the pure juice such as juicy juice or orange juice something like that, not hawaiian punch or kool-aid (which is ok someimtes). i think junk food is okay in MODERATION. it all needs to start with the parents though. if the parents are overweight then the children are more likely to be overweight too. parents need to be TAUGHT the proper nutrition not just told well this is what you baby/child needs.

imo there is no reason for a 3 year old to weight the same as a 5 or 6 year old unless there is some very serious medical problem.

i agree most eating habits are learned but sometimes children are just born heavy and are just genetically heavier (think queen latifa (sp?)--she'd look weird at what society considers an ideal weight. plus she's beautiful the way she is). juice is okay imo as long as it is the pure juice such as juicy juice or orange juice something like that, not hawaiian punch or kool-aid (which is ok someimtes). i think junk food is okay in MODERATION. .

I totally agree with everything. I don't think every person that's slightly larger than "normal" (or whatever you wanna call it) should be classified as obese. Sometimes people are just a bit bigger and that's naturally how they are. :dunno


As far as the junk and juice, I allow both in my house, in moderation. Juice is 100% juice and although it isn't AS good as a serving of real fruit, it is a healthy alternative with much less sugar than things like kool aid. I ALWAYS keep the little mini juicey juices in the house. Its not something they get every day, but I don't mind if they have it a few times a week. Junk food is also in moderation. I don't ban either of them from it. Shelby's only a year old but I've given her tastes of everything from chocolate chip cookies to icecream. I have never let her sit and pig out on any of them :rofl but I really don't think a little bit here or there will hurt any child. They get a good balance of foods and neither of them have a weight problem.

I just wonder if it's proven that people are genetically predisposed to obesity. Have there been studies on that? I'd be very interested to see what kind of conclusions were drawn. I've always simply believed that heavy people have heavy kids because they pass on their sedentary lifestyles and poor eating habits. I know heavy people who have children that are not heavy...so I just don't know if I agree with the genetic argument.


ETA: Bone structure is one thing...I agree that that is genetic...but it seems to me that fat cells are another story.

I just wonder if it's proven that people are genetically predisposed to obesity. Have there been studies on that? I'd be very interested to see what kind of conclusions were drawn. I've always simply believed that heavy people have heavy kids because they pass on their sedentary lifestyles and poor eating habits. I know heavy people who have children that are not heavy...so I just don't know if I agree with the genetic argument.


ETA: Bone structure is one thing...I agree that that is genetic...but it seems to me that fat cells are another story.


:dunno There have been claims from supposed experts that say people are genetically predisposed, but I don't know. :dunno

I don't know either. I was NOT being a smartass, I really am interested in what studies have uncovered about genetic predisposition to obesity. If I could tear myself away from SOS long enough I might even research it myself :rofl

:dunno There have been claims from supposed experts that say people are genetically predisposed, but I don't know. :dunno

It could be things like metabolism and where the fat is carried that is genetic. But I imagine it is mostly lifestyle passed down.

I do know with PCOS you are more prone to weightgain and it is harder to lose weight. And since PCOS goes undiagnosed usually for so many years that gives it time for people to develop a weight problem. The problem with PCOS is not only the hormones but also your body doesnt break down the food the right way. Which is why metformin (a diabetic drug) is used for people with PCOS who arent even diabetic.

Now there are alot of people who have PCOS that are not overweight or obsese. But there are alot who are. I do actually believe it can be in genes or due to medical issues. But thats because I have seen firsthand what something like that can do thru friends who have PCOS. Now yes some people whom are overweight DO have poor eating habits/lifestyle habits. But definatly not all

thyroidism is another problem with weight too. most of my family suffers from it and it is genetic. i am even more careful about what i eat and how much i exercise. i think i heard on discovery health or something like that, that there is a gene that determines where your weight falls and how it determines your body shape (i.e. pear, apple, hourglass, etc etc). i think even if you are genetically predisposed to being overweight there are things you can do to compensate for it. you can be aware of it and take steps to eat healthy and exercise. most of my family is overweight and for lack of a better word lazy, i've seen that my whole life and decided i do not want to be in my 30s and overweight.

well, then I guess Gabe is overweight. people have to remember that those percentile charts are for kids their age. Gabe is taller and heavier than over 100% on his charts, he always has been. if you look at him though, he is not overweight. he is just a big boy. he looks like he is 6 instead of 4.

sorry i dont go by the charts and kids being overweight. i used to worry about it till i had Gabe. now i am not going to compare my child to everyone else's and that is exactly what those charts do. i refuse to have Gabe "labeled" as overweight cause he is bigger than kids his age.

i truly believe that overweight kids, is the results of parenting. The parents are the ones that are responsible for feeding them and making sure that they are getting exercise and not sitting in front of the tv or comp. It's not the schools or dr's responsibility, it parents.

well i can tell you that of my two older sons one is alot heavier but its because of his eating habits and not alot of exercise and he has always been that way. my other older son has always been a lanky skinny stick LOL. but he takes after his father who was also tall and a skinny stick. LOL so even though I had two sons one got my metabolism and the other one got his dads metabolism and i think thats all it is basically or a combo of metabolism, eating habits and activity levels. right now Robbie is fine but might be underweight he is almost 4 and weighs 35 lbs and is 41 inches tall. and his dad when he was little or growing up was really a skinny stick. but i was always the one that had a weight problem but that was due to my diet and lack of activity.

oh and i forgot to mention that my second older son did eat quite a bit when he was little and growing up so he could eat a cow and not gain any weight.

Well I think some people do need to worry early... There is a couple I've been friends with for years and thier daughter at 6 months was VERY big. The docs told them to watch her diet and they thought it was rediculous to worry about a child being overweight that young and fed her constantly... she was a mouth full of teeth at 6 months.. well she is 3 1/2 now and she is still seriously overweight (like 50lbs or so).

Well I think some people do need to worry early... There is a couple I've been friends with for years and thier daughter at 6 months was VERY big. The docs told them to watch her diet and they thought it was rediculous to worry about a child being overweight that young and fed her constantly... she was a mouth full of teeth at 6 months.. well she is 3 1/2 now and she is still seriously overweight (like 50lbs or so).

I know ONE mother like that Sarah, and I'm not saying there aren't special rare instances where weight should be brought to the parents attention. I just think that it's not something for EVERYONE to be worried about. Six months old???? Come ON now. MOST of us have better judgement than to feed our kids candy and coke at 6 months of age.

I know ONE mother like that Sarah, and I'm not saying there aren't special rare instances where weight should be brought to the parents attention. I just think that it's not something for EVERYONE to be worried about. Six months old???? Come ON now. MOST of us have better judgement than to feed our kids candy and coke at 6 months of age.

You know how society is... The "minority" is catered to.. so because there are a few dumb parents who are stupid like that the docs have to warn all parents of children who have a potantial of becoming overweight.

They only consider a baby in the 90% to be at risk of being over weight if thier height is not also up there at like the 80 or 90%

As a baby Alex was in the 95% for weight AND height so the doc wasn't worried because he was proportioned... he was just big.

http://mednews.wustl.edu/news/page/normal/4218.html

I found this article about genetic predisposition to obesity. Pretty interesting. :yes

Rhianen is in the 90th percentile weight and 75th for height. The doctor didn't start talking to me about her being overweight though. She's barely started solid food (eating a 1/2 tbs rice cereal a day), so i don't know how i would control that anyway. :shrug

Rhianen is in the 90th percentile weight and 75th for height. The doctor didn't start talking to me about her being overweight though. She's barely started solid food (eating a 1/2 tbs rice cereal a day), so i don't know how i would control that anyway. :shrug

Her height is close enough for them not to worry.... when I said 80 to 90 I wasn't being very accurate, just trying to give an example. Now if she was 25% for height and 90% for weight they'd probably tell you she was a little plump.

If a doctor told me my four month old that was just starting solids was "a little plump", I'd tell them precisely where to go and exactly how to get there.

If a doctor told me my four month old that was just starting solids was "a little plump", I'd tell them precisely where to go and exactly how to get there.

lol

Alex was pretty damn fat at 4 months.. he looked like a ball and the pedi never told me he was fat (he was already eating 2nd stage jars of food and 8 oz bottles lol)... they said he was healthy. My others 2 are thin for thier height and Wyatt eats like a freakin cow. A lot of it depends on the pedi.