I agree with this. My son had no symptoms apart from being short and overweight. He wasn't lacking in energy. I would ask for a blood test to get things checked as symptoms aren't always apparent. totto both my boys (they have the same condition) see a paediatric endocrinologist but we have to go to Newcastle from Durham to see him (20 miles)
Thanks all. She is very tall for her age, and no other typical symptoms of hypothyroidism (apart from being frequently grumpy? I have always put that down to personality and tiredness after lots of activity.) So I will probably start with concentrating more on what she eats in the next few months (perhaps keeping a food diary) and seeing what happens. I will have a look at that book, thanks. It is such a relief to talk to people who can offer real suggestions as to what to do other than "you're doing all the right things, she'll be fine" when I'm whacked round the head every week by the government and the media telling me I must be doing something wrong!
My nephew has got the same problem. He is very tall and obese. And his mother don´t know why. Is your daughter sad about being obese? Then it will be easier. She should eat less fatty things. No Mac and cheese. Try to give her whole grain noodles with tomatoes. Same with Pizza. Use less cheese and a lot of whole grain Products. Do you eat a lot of meat? Because the animals gets hormones to get fat and grow fast. So if you eat a lot of meat you eat these hormones. Maybe you can try biological meat if your daughter likes it a lot. But it´s more expensive. What does she use to drink? Try to give her water. If she does´t like it give her juice without sugar. Hope something of this is useful for you.
With respect, many of us actually do the opposite to this and think it's the carbohydrate diet and the low fat that causes the major issues. edited:
For an alternative opinion, you may have heard of Dr R Lustig . Apart from making viral you tube videos, he is a childhood a paediatric endocrinologist with a special interest in childhood obesity. Working with these children is his major research field. Here is the advice from the hospital he works in. (lots of other linked pages from the sidebar). It is not a high fat diet, it does include lots of unprocessed fruit/veg, real whole grains, lean protein and sufficient calcium from low fat dairy. http://www.ucsfbenioffchildrens.org/education/healthy_diet_tips/index.html
Like his book a lot (Fat Chance), he advocates lots of fibre, but some feel that fibre is overrated in terms of diabtes etc. Can't see it doing any harm. BUT carbs = starch = sugar = increased blood glucose levels - simples!
Thanks Phoenix and gfmoore. My aim now is to base all meals round a piece of meat or fish or perhaps peas or beans with vegetables, raw if possible. A very traditional "meat and two veg" kind of diet! I wonder about the "low fat" dairy though. Dairy products that are marketed as low fat often have lots of other bad things in. I will aim to include cheese, natural or greek yoghurt, full fat milk and not much else dairy. Daughter is enjoying the new regime. I've pretty much finished all the "bad stuff" which was in the house (bread, some cereal bars, biscuits) and not replaced them, and have given her free rein to make her own packed lunches with all the good stuff which is in the fridge. Today she went in with tomato, avocado and mozzarella salad with her own dressing and was really chuffed with it. Two fingers to the white bread ham sandwich/packet of crips/chocolate bar brigade who seem to always be telling her she has a mean mummy for not giving her "normal" packed lunches!
I wouldn't do low fat with a kid, fat fills in the lost carbs and it also triggers fullness You can't do low carb and low fat....it's a seesaw. You take from one side, you add to the other I hate iPhone apps
Thanks Jack. What it comes down to is simply reducing the amount of pasta, bread and biscuits we all eat. Which can only be a good thing for everyone! I am definitely not going for any low fat anything. And obviously sticking to "good" fat. I was reading about trans fats the other day. They are evil! I discovered yesterday that pork scratchings have 0 carbs! Now they will be less of a guilty treat!
How are you going finding a supportive dr, I wouldn't do it without medical overview. Kids are too unknown and any underlying issues. Even though it's getting back to the meat and 3veg Dieting adults are simple in comparison
Hi Georgia! I came across your post from 3 years ago while researching tirelessly (again) for other individuals with similar cases like my little sister's. I was hoping that perhaps yourself or any other lovely people on this website could provide another avenue to try as we feel we have exhausted so many options. Just like yourself, my mother is beside herself with worry and doctors cannot seem to find a cause for her being overweight. My sister is currently 4 years of age and in the highest percentile of weight for her age group. She was born 4kg and there were no complications with her pregnancy. She is very active and has always been active. She is quick thinking and has no current medical conditions. We are in Australia and she has been to see doctors, pediatricians, has had numerous blood tests, has had hydrogen breath tests, has had her thyroid checked twice and has had her bowels checked - but all results have come back perfectly normal. In regards to her diet, she is very fussy and will only eat specific foods, if anything at all. She can go for days without eating even if her "tummy is hurting". She has been underfed since she went onto solids. In the last 8 months her eating has picked up as she is now off an age where she can understand that eating is healthy. Mum is doing an amazing job talking to her in a way she can understand and my sister is now eating more foods, but still remains very overweight. Occassionally she will still have days she does not eat. A typical food diary for her looks something like this: 2 boiled eggs for breakfast. Bread and butter for snack. Vegetable based bowl of soup such as minestrone or tomato soup. Fruit smoothie for Dinner. She does like her chocolate but will only be given chocolate every other day. The question my mum keeps asking doctors is "how can my child be so overweight when she doesnt eat much food and uses more energy than she puts into her body?". I am not sure if this forum is the right place to post this story, but I was just really hoping that somebody out there could point us in a right direction - any direction. Mum and dad want to try anything, especially since she is going to start school in the coming year and we don't want her to feel different to other children. I was wondering if you every found any solutions or help for your beautiful daughter? Thank you so much for reading this and again, I hope that it's Okay to post this!