'Overweight' children

nanapug, my youngest D reacted the same way to fire safety talks at school when she was 7. She has a vivid imagination and had nightmares for months!!!!

I abhor this nanny state we are living in. I have heard this so often about children being told they are overweight at school when they appear not to be. Then we are told that children are too aware of their weight and eating disorders are becoming more common. We can't win can we? Schools these days seem to have to cover so much extra curricular stuff such as sex education and fire safety. I strongly believe that it is the parent's job to address these things, and the schools should not interfere. One of my GSs is now frightened of fire, and can't get to sleep at night, since the school talk on fire safety. It was taught across the school and he was only five. Needless to say his understanding was not the same as the ten year olds and he is now frightened. Surely it is his mother who should decide when, what and how he should be told about it. I know some parents don't address these issues, but in my opinion that is not my problem. I am fed up with the state telling us what to do. Did anyone hear about the dodgem ride where people were not allowed to bump into each other because of health and safety. Crazy........

When my youngest DS had a medical at school - aged about 7 - the nurse who measured his height told me he was too tall. I asked her which end she recommended removing the excess from. The nurse who weighed him said he was too heavy so I had to see the doctor who proceeded to lecture me about his being overweight. When I could get a word in, I asked was DS overweight for his age or overweight for his height? The doctor couldn't see that would make a difference but eventually used the height to check his weight on his chart rather than his age and found DS was right in the middle range of acceptable. That shut them up!

If your GD is overweight, try not to worry, She will be sensitive enough about her weight soon enough, then you could help her by suggesting a good eating regime for her.

Unfortunately youngsters do tend to be inactive these days. Can you get her interested in any activity - dancing, trampolining, swimming?

I have a granddaughter (11) who is overweight. Her other (deceased) grandmother was very short and dumpy so I guess she has inherited that bone structure. She has a placid personality and is not interested in active pursuits - likes to read or watch TV. Her mother (my daughter) is overweight too - although tall. They do not have a healthy eating ethos in their house, although when they visit us (we live fairly close) I try to stick to healthy food. I find it difficult to restrict her portions so that she has an 11 year old small girl plateful - but her sister is tall and slim and eats like an adult although only 13. So it is difficult to offer smaller portions as she is quite independent and notices if she is treated differently from her elder sister.

I am at a loss as to how to help her weight problem - she is fiercely protective of her right to be treated the same as her much taller sister. Children these days seem to expect to be treated equally even if they are not equal in age or shape. My daughter seems to be almost oblivious of the problem. However when this younger granddaughter starts secondary school in September I anticipate that she will be taunted about her weight. The issue is not helped by the fact that my daughter has always been vegetarian and does not have a healthy diet herself - although she is much more active.

How can I help my granddaughter given that she is not aware that she has a problem?

It does worry me because although my youngest daughter (46yrs) and her two daughter (18 & 20yrs ) are lovely they are over weight .I only weigh 7 stones and I would prefare they were of average weight . But they are all happy and lovely looking , so I guess there is little I can say .

What a cheek ! In their opinion !! I think they should mind their own business. If they got on with what they are paid to do and left the child welfare to the parents.