my so is 8 and he weighs 160lbs

Julie - posted on 03/21/2013

If u have low B12, get injections from a doctor or homeopathic doctor. It helps with weight management and fatigue.

Julie - posted on 03/20/2013

I'm sorry u feel alone in the effort to help your son, and u should be concerned with his weight. it is detramental to the future of his health and happiness.
Question; When u say he is, "so active" what type of activity are you referring to?
Does he break a sweat daily? Does he keep that sweat for at least 20 minutes or more? These are two easy ways to determine your child is getting enough cardiovascular activity. Other activity may seem like enough but its not.
Question; when u say he doesn't eat what u would think. What am I thinking? Do u mean types of foods I think or amount of food he eats? Many variables to consider before real changes can be made. See a doctor, get blood sugar and blood pressure checked as well as resting heart rate. See what his BMI should be (healthy weight for height) take the weight he is minus the BMI and divide by 12 (months in a year) this is the target amount he will want to lose per month in offer to achieve his goal in one year.
Visit a dietician to determine calorie intake for age, activity and weight loss goal. They will give u sample meal ideas to get u started and u can search online from there.
Do all this with him and for him, to teach him not tell him how to change his life forever not just for a year. Have him weigh in once a week, same day and first thing in am. Have mini weekly rewards and monthly big rewards (never reward with food/drink tho). All the best to u and your son. I have an 8 yr old myself and 8 is great!!!

Kristina Holyoke - posted on 03/20/2013

Hi Leesa,

I have an eight year old son, who has very bad asthma and has been on and off steroids and he is now 140 lbs. I am very concerned and I have taken him to the doctor's and had him run everything under the sun and he keep's telling me it's because of the steroid's which I understand. But his second grade classmate's don't. They make fun of him and he is desperate to loose weight. Yes he play's sports get's lost in the woods be hind our house with his brother for hours. They are always out side riding bikes and scooter's. Very active children. With that being said it effect's his asthma and I feel as though he is getting worse not better, playing and being active cause him to need his inhalers and MORE STEROIDS. I completely understand, what your going through and the looks on the other parent's face's that don't know us ( are grossed out looks like I am some bad mother that only feed's her son fast food and sweets and soda) which I am the complete opposite!! I need to help him before he looses all hope, I think he is depressed and has very low self esteem and his father and I have started taking him to therapy. We have a nutrition appointment in 8 weeks but I don't want to wait 8 more weeks, I see the pain on my little boys face because he is different form all the other children and it KILLS me. He NEEDS MY HELP and I feel like I have done EVERYTHING!! We still get no results? Long story short how and what did you do for you son?? As your post was back in August I am wondering how you and your son made out??

Thanks!

Rosalee - posted on 08/27/2012

GIVE HIM MORE FIBER, FRUITS .SALADS,WATER NO JUICE. LOTS OF ACTIVITIES,HE'LL BE ALRIGHT.

Richele - posted on 08/26/2012

I have a 9 y/o boy who weighs 150. He is in football and baseball. Constantly moving outside playing biking etc. We have tested numerous things and all have been negative. We aren't the absolute healthiest family but I do limit things. It is few and far between that they get soda and sweets. I don't buy them for our house. He is going to be very big I feel. His shoulder span is very large he is built like a brick shit house. I try to give him veggies or salad if he asks for seconds at meals and lots of water. Good luck I totally understand how you are feeling! Just try and make sure he's as healthy as possible.

Lori - posted on 08/25/2012

My daughter is 3 and weighs 40lbs. Some people have voiced comments about that but she looks proportionate, plus her dad and his family are all big and tall.



I would take him to the doctor and have him checked for any health issues that would be the cause of this weight gain. Good Luck. I hope it is nothing serious.

Jean - posted on 08/25/2012

I'm sorry Leesa! I know what its like to struggle w/ weight issues, although I don't with my children I have battled it myself since I was eight..... Some things to consider.... do you eat many fried foods, do you add oil to cooked beans? Cooking w/oil, adding mayonnaise, sour cream, whipping cream/heavy cream, butter or margarine adds lots of fat and calories to the food we eat without really being noticed. If you eat a full bowl of cooked oatmeal it is usually 150 to 200 calories, depending on how large your bowl is. If you add a tablespoon of butter, which is amazingly small, you now have a 250 to 300 calorie bowl of oatmeal, if you add a tablespoon of sugar its 45 more calories, brown sugar is 55, a TB of honey is 60.....and the vitamin& mineral part of the meal is now only half. If you eat the oatmeal w/ a teaspoon of brown sugar, a packet or two of truvia or splenda, and a little 1% milk ( I have tried to drink ff milk and I detest it, but 1% is great!), now you have half the calories and pretty much all of them are very nutritious!!!! Also, while things like nuts, cheese and nut butters are extremely healthy, the calories add up quickly. Remember that serving sizes are 2 tbs for nut butters and they are190 calories, that's more than the calories in four ounces of broiled chicken breast, which is the size of a medium adult palm!!!!!! Say your son likes beans, a half cup cooked is approx. 90 calories, if cooked w/just a little salt and seasonings, no added fat, but if you add a tb of oil, two tbls of sour cream, or an ounce of shredded cheese, you add 100 calories to the 80 calorie bowl of beans..... whole grains, with their higher fiber and nutrient contents, will help fill you up and keep your son full longer. Also, some kids, or adults like myself, will crave fatty or sugary foods when they are missing essencial nutrients, I have a higher than average b12 requirement, I tried going vegan for a while and was always weak, tired and hungry. I was eating lots of b12 fortified foods and taking a b12 supplement. I gained weight and was tired until I added 8 oz daily to my diet of cooked proteins and 3 8 oz glasses of milk. I'm no longer weak and I've finally gotten my eating and weight under control. Not saying that vegan is bad, I'm just giving the example of how vitamin/mineral deficiencies can contribute to weight gain/excessive eating..... soory to go on for so long, lastly, avoid sugars, in juices, sodas or adding them to foods. When one is overweight your body metabolises sugars poorly, and even small amounts can lead to highs and lows in blood sugar causing cravings, weight gain, and overeating. Of course, you really should go see a dr. They may discover a medical reason for it all.......good luck.....

Alexandra - posted on 08/23/2012

diet and exercise, lots of exercise and good eatings. But he should see a doctor to see if there is something else going on.

Sara - posted on 08/23/2012

i kinda know what you are going through. mY son is almost 5 and weights 68lbs already. He doesnt eat a lot of junk and is always outside riding bike or doing something. Hes been to the dr several times and they have never said anything about his weight. He is 46inches tall. I just really try to watch what i give him for snacks and meals and try to limit the junk food.

TIFFANY - posted on 08/23/2012

Thank you Leesa for posting about your son and weight concerns. I also have a heavy 8 year old and I have become concerned with how much he is growing. Reading the responses has helped me to not feel bad but to think proactive and come up with a plan that he and I can work on together. Thank you and everyone that has given advice!

Christine - posted on 08/23/2012

My son hAd put on a lot of weight n i was concerned, too. Always run medical tests first for thyroid. I only let him have 2 glasses of milk, small juice w bkfst, n only water rest of day; a glass of soda at a special event only, i got 100 calorie snack bags which helped w serving size, lotsa fruit, carrots w ranch dressing... The biggest and most powerful change came when i encorced new summer rules.... Outside from 12-4:00, tv only after all chores ....bed made, room straightened, bkfst, brushed, dressed... And then only from 4:00 till dinner, if super active during day, i would maybe allow night time viewing w preference to active video games. He cried outside door , but after he realized i meant it,told him we have a pool, invite 1 or 12 over, a bike, find ur friends, or sulk n walk laps around pool... He found all his friends around corner n played all different sports, games n called saying do i have to come home, all my friends cAn stay out till 6!

HE LOST 15 LBS IN 3 WEEKS. I never realized that could b done w just playing ! He still was a little chunky, but had a growth spurt n stretched the rest out! He is now lean!! Hang in there n stick to whatever u do! Good luck!

Ashley - posted on 08/22/2012

First off I would take him to the dr n see if there is a medical condition on why he weighs so much. Maybe thyroid problems? Then I would do an actual diet if everything came back normal. Eat smaller meals, not as much times during the day and stay VERY active. Sports or just outside playing anything active. basketball, soccer, just running around the yard like a banchee, anything. My son is 7 and LOVES to eat, I litterally chase him outta the kitchen 30 times a day so I can have food in my house but he isnt overweight. He is actually on the smaller side of the scale and is encouraged to eat as much fat as possible but again he cant because I cant afford to keep food in my house to feed him that much lol.

Liz - posted on 08/22/2012

I have to be honest it is hard fro me to picture... I'm 5'8" and weigh 158.. so to be 13 inches shorter and same weight is alarming. My son is on other spectrum and is just as difficult. He's 9 and weighs 58... low on scale but not unhealthy. Eats all the time and very active child. But eats NO junk food, NO soda ever. Not raised that way and just not even have a taste for it. But does drink whole milk to help gain...and yes loves pizza and fries and all that jazz. So I don't curtail some of those items because hoping will bulk him up. Either way too big or too small we all worry. As long as eating healthy most of the time and getting activity...hopefully will all work itself out over time. Some people have different body types genetically.... But do agree with the one poster that said keep a log. If he is 100% honest with what eating for a week this could tell you a lot as well and help everyone see if food related. And as other poster said...not type of food but portions?

Good luck!

Sherri - posted on 08/22/2012

It isn't always what he is eating but the size portions. He may have no portion control.

Kerri - posted on 08/22/2012

My daughter is almost 5 feet 3 inches tall so is very tall for her age also that helps even her out

Kerri - posted on 08/22/2012

My daughter just turned 9 and weighs 129 pounds she doesn't eat a lot of junk food but will eat some. but she's active she plays soccer and her doctor isn't too concerned and think she will even out in a few years but a watch her diet not let her eat that much junk food she has been going to the gym with me we go to work out world a couple times a week and she actually loves it I would just go to the doctor and see what they have to say about your son and just try to watch what he eats and maybe you both can get a plan together and help motivate each other that might work

Kelly - posted on 08/22/2012

I understand My Son is 8 and weights 100lbs and wants to eat all the time. It it hard to always be at him about his weight at such a young age. I feel I am always either offering him a better low fat choice or chasing him away from the cupboard all together. I myself was chunky when I was younger and outgrew it in my 30's. I remember the feeling of how fat feels and hope he takes a growth spurt soon like my 12yr old.

Hillary - posted on 08/22/2012

Walk with him at a fast pace everyday, limit TV or video games to one hour a day. No soft drinks or fruit juices

Only water and skim milk. Put him on the new weight watchers and make him play outside all day when not in school and put him in a sport any sport.Goodluck! Wish you both the best!

Maureen - posted on 08/22/2012

If this wasn't rapid change in weight, it is most frequently lifestyle related. It would be a great help to both you and your healthcare provider to keep at least a 24 hour intake diary when you come in for the appointment. Anything that touches the lips should be written down. Whether the food was processed or homemade from scratch is important. Be specific about the quality and quantity of what he eats; i.e., don't write "sandwich at lunch" but number of slices of whole wheat or white bread, mayo, # of slices (or ounces) of turkey, etc.
My babysitter had been going to MDs for 15 years and never got an answer. I sent her to a good nutritionist and she lost 10 lbs in first month just by changing her grocery shopping and thus, eating habits. She started SAVING $ on groceries yet she left Dominicks and started going to Whole Foods. Biggest change on weight and $ is that she stopped buying drinks and chips. Try shopping more on the outside of the store and menu planning. Skip the school lunch if you can and make your own foods.

Jill - posted on 08/22/2012

It sounds like he should see a doctor and have some medical testing for things like diabetes, thyroid, and other disorders that cause weight gain.

Debbie - posted on 08/22/2012

Has his doctor run tests to make sure he doesn't have some medical condition that might be contributing? My first thought after that is how much juice and/or soda does he drink? It's easy to overload on calories that way. I have an 8 year old girl who, though tall for her age, is also quite overweight and had been gaining rapidly the past year. She is quite active as well, between dance, karate and horse riding. There was no medical reason for the weight gain, so we were given a number of new house rules to follow that have slowed her growth down to a reasonable rate. One of the biggest was no sugary beverages, including juice. It really has made a difference.

I hope you and your son are able to get his weight under control!

Carolyn - posted on 08/22/2012

My son, who started off very much under the scale, picked up weight rapidly at the age of nine. He gained more than 40 pounds in one year. He eats very little sweets (no candy or cake) and loves fruits and vegetables. I too was very concerned and after doing a great deal of reading I took him to the doctor. They ran multiple test and came back with nothing. Our next step was to enroll him in a youth exercise and wellness program. We changed his primary drink to water and were mindful of his fast food intake. Overall, we all tried to make better choices. He didn't loose a lot, but began to maintain. Over time, he has grown into the weight that he gained. I would take him to the doctor to be sure, but making some simple changes will go a long way.

Leesa - posted on 08/22/2012

Tyler is 4' 7 in a half. They are starting out slow and see if he can lose weight,

Cherish - posted on 08/21/2012

Have you had his thyroid checked?
Unless he is VERY tall being 160 pounds when you are only 8 is concerning

Jodi - posted on 08/21/2012

Take him to see a doctor. If he isn't eating junk and is exercising regularly, this is not normal and you should get him tested.

Dove - posted on 08/21/2012

How tall is he? Is he under the care of a doctor for his extreme weight? Unless he is really, really tall... that is huge for 8 and I would think that if he's getting that big while being active with a healthy diet.... the doctor would be running tests. If the doctor is not concerned and/or not running tests... I'd be seeking a second opinion. You don't get to 160 pounds overnight and something needs to be done asap.