Weight Gain in My 9yoG

You've gotten some really good answers so far... but one additional thing to watch is what all she is drinking. For example, juices and milk. Yes, they are both good for her, but she doesn't need to drink that every time she is thirsty... that can add on the calories pretty quickly. Water is a great thirst-quencher! Keep a pitcher in the fridge so it is nice and cold.

I agree with Julia and Mallory's post re: food intake.
My two cents... My 12daughter is a couch potato but we just got her the game Just Dance and Just Dance 2 for the Wii. She loves it and she is moving.

Have her start with smaller servings (you guys too! so she doesn't fee picked on). Make sure that there are plenty of fruits and veggies for her to go back for. Also encourage her to be active more often. That is a big thing for kids her age.

One thing I've also mentioned to my kids (especially when they go through 1/2 a box of cereal in one morning!) is that it isn't healthy for their body to eat more than they need. I don't talk about them "getting fat," just about keeping their bodies healthy. Also help her understand the difference between hungry and bored, and between full enough to be satisfied and stuffed.
I've also encouraged my daughter to start running with me. We don't do it so often right now, but she does run at recess and we plan to join a 5k together sometime. The big thing is what she sees you doing - be active with her!

Some of it can be the pre-puberty changes starting. Girls are hitting puberty as early as 4th grade, an there is always some weight gain, especially around the hips a rear end, along with a bit of weight added right before the growth spurt. Don't try to get her to loose any weight yet, just to be able to grow into any extra she has.

Do not say a thing to her! I just read that girls who dieted in puberty have a weight struggle up until menopause. Also, you just don't want to make her self concious at such a young age. So...

First of all-do not have enough food for seconds and thirds!! Make enough so that each family member has one portion. Sounds like you don't need the extras either.

Get rid of the rule about cleaning your plate. This is a flawed philosphy-even if it does have to do with veg/fruit. This will also make it a game/challenge for her to clean plate to get more food. It will also instill the mentality of eating when you are full just to finish everything. IF there isn't any more food left she will not have to race to eat it also.

Use any carbs as 'sides'. Rice, pasta and bread should not be eaten in abundance...even though they are healthy and whole grain.

If you are online with WW you know that they have a ton of recipes and advice that you can use. Use the WWs tools and philosphies to feed your family.

Riding a bike is not the only activity that she can do. Take her swimming if she does'nt like sweat. Hopefully she will grow out of this aversion though.

Try to take a walk with her after dinner every night. It could be only 15 minutes around the block but it will be good for both of you...and you will get a nice chance to bond.

I think she could being going through a growing spell as did my son who put on weight, However, it's been a huge concern of mine that my son put on so much weight in just a year's time.. therefore, we have amped up our exercise, we walk just about anywhere we can.... I advise that very much. It's made a BIG difference and his weight has leveled off, no gain in about 6 mos and his height is catching up to his weight. Originally, we thought well he is tall for his age and therefore bigger, that is true.. but still.. fat is fat..

Additionally, in WW as you now know with the new points system, it's not always portions (as you can eat as many veggies/fruits) and not be debited any points, but rather it's the types of foods.. since you know she likes additional food, why not add more fresh fruit before or during a meal, even more veggies. some people stop at one veggie, I DON'T.. I serve 2 or even 3 and less starchy foods. I don't cut them out completely though.. I like starch :) I think you can do the WW and share what you have learned.. oh you don't have to necessarily tell her, but show her with the food choices you make.. be casual about it. Like you, I didn't want my son to have a complex, although he was already told by school mates he was fat.. but even so, I didn't want to add fuel to that fire...I would keep trying to find an exercise she likes. When I Was 15, I went to my first Jazzercise Class and LOVED it.. can you take her with you to an exercise class where they play music she likes? exercise can be fun... and in a room with the AC on :)

also, kudos to you for WW. I just re-joined myself..

My pediatric colleagues at work years ago referred to that stage as PPP--pre-pubescent pudginess. My slender fit daughter and her friends went through exacftly the same thing. I would suggest having good foods around, not making a huge issue of it and this is the perfect age to get her involved in activities such as dancing,, sports, swimming--anything active that she can keep up as a teen and hopefully as an adult. PS--her physician likely is quite sharp but has heard this concern many times and may not be especially concerned at her age. Don't put your food issues on her. If you're cooking healthily and getting her into activities, I'd suggest not worrying at this point. Nature may well take care of it as she grows and matures.

First of all: good job with the weight watchers. I need to start again since in the last 20 years I have added about 20 pounds, and even though the more "mature" look is fine with my knees would feel better being thinner.
I would restrict her intake, and let her know that one plate is enough and to wait at least half an hour to see if she is still feeling hungry. I would also mention your own struggle to her, and that it is MUCH easier to keep it off than to take it off. Since her stomach is stretched from the 3 portions she eats, she will feel hungry until it stretches back. I would also explain that every person needs at least half an hour of exercise a day. Maybe get an exercise bike - I bought one for around $200 at Olympia Sports and use it daily while watching tv for 45 minutes. My 13 year old daughter who is our couch potato has asked if she can try it, so perhaps seeing you do something like that will get her moving - and she can still watch tv while doing it!

My daughter went through the same thing last year and this year she's really shooting up and thinning out. It's the way she's growing. Just keep an eye on what she eats. And a way to cut down on her portions is to just not make so much, and for you and your hubby to stick with one serving only. Once it's gone, it's gone. Perhaps YOU get out WITH her and do something fun and physical and help keep the weight under control.

I think it's the pre-puberty growth spurt. One daughter just stayed thin and then blossomed. The other got really pudgy and I was a bit worried. Just make sure you help her dress appropriately-mine wanted to dress like her older sister more and those styles just didn't work for her. We found certain styles that made her look good and not pudgy-stayed away from the tighter ts, etc.
Keep the healthy foods available. Talk to her about good foods and how as you get older it can be harder to lose weight so it is smart to develop good habits now. Go for a walk with her. Send her out with the dog to walk. It isn't hot in Texas now-get her outside!
It seemed like overnight my pudgy daughter shot up and thinned out. Now she's trimmer than her older sister and more aware of not eating too much junk food.
Good luck.

My daughter did that too (she's now 13) and would plump up, grow, thin out. Part of the puberty cycle too. I remember eating two big macs when I was going through growth spurts! Yikes! I do teach my daughter about healthy eating so if she wants more then to pick from healthy choices, but I stress it's for health not weight!

my daughter is the same way. we are doing the full glass of water before seconds(if we do it before dinner, she won't eat).
we also found that most parents allow sodas. I have told her she is not to have sprite or anything anymore. her best friend drinks bottles of soda each day.

The easiest way is to not make enough food for seconds. Too much of a good thing is still bad. It ma be a growth spurt, pre-pubertal development, anything. I close my kitchen at 8pm. No more food after that. For anyone.
While you do not want to destroy her body image, you do need to have an honest talk with her about her eating habits and her weight. It is a slippery slope, but if her wt gain continues, you will be fighting teasing and meanness at school. You need to stress health over weight.
Good Luck

I think she is old enough just to talk to. I was a heavy child and you never lose that feeling of being overweight. Now I am sorry but there is no reason she or anyone should be eating more than 1 plateful of food. If she can fit more it's because she has stretched her stomach and she is eating to the point of over-full. Go to a nutritional website and see what a portion should be. If you are doing weight watchers then you should know too. What's wrogn with you controlling her portions like your own. Just like you said she needs to learn it now or be fat until she is an adult and goes on weight watchers herself. As far as exercise she is going to follow you. If she doesn't see you getting out and sweating where is she going to learn it. I know it is tough because I struggle with food day after day...I can have a good week or 2 then fall off the wagon. I have 2 small children and I work on their food habits already...Ok will good luck on weight watchers I am a big believer in them. I lost about 30 pounds with them!!! Keep pushing every day!!

Since you're the parent, you don't "suggest" that she not have seconds or thirds you simple state that she can't have 2nd or 3rds, period. If she is still hungry she can have more veggies or some fruit or another health snack. Especially if she has already had enough. Make sure she has a glass of milk or water with the meal as well and maybe even a piece of bread (whole grain). This may help her fill up.

She may get a little chunky as she gets into puberty, but that will eve out when she gets a bit taller as long as she isn't eating too much.

My son is 10 and if I know he has eaten enough at dinner, I won't allow him to eat more. He can have a healthy snack at that point. It takes time for your brain to catch up to your stomach, especially if she is a fast eater like my son!

Just a suggestion, in our house we have a 30 minute rule (wait 30 minutes before taking seconds) Often times it takes that much time for the signal that you are full to reach your brain.

I would just like to add that I remember being that age and I was always hungry! I was also a very active kid, though, always riding bikes, playing outside, going on walks with my mom, etc. I was also in dance and when I was 11 or 12 I started mowing my neighbor's lawn and walking her dog. I was always stick-thin and had no problems eating as much as I did at the time because I was active. But my point is that it's completely normal to be extra-hungry at that age! Girls are growing like crazy from about 9-13 and actually do NEED those extra calories. You as the parent just have to make sure the calories she's getting are healthy ones. Limit soda and juices b/c they are full of sugar. Limit desserts and junk food like chips. Have healthy snacks like fresh fruit and veges with dip, granola bars, popcorn, tortilla chips with salsa, etc. And let her have seconds or thirds at dinner if she's hungry! It's actually worse to not let her eat if she's hungry b/c her body will recognize that it's not getting the calories it needs, so it will start storing fat to use later in case she starts eating less or doesn't have food. It's nature's way of preventing the body from starving. So let her eat as long as she's really hungry! Try having her drink a full glass of water after each plate of food, though, b/c sometimes our brain mixes up the signals for hunger and thirst.
And you really need to get her active in something as soon as possible. Most cities offer inexpensive sports and sometimes dance programs. Have her try each one for at least 2 or 3 months before she decides if she likes it or not. Keep trying until you find something she really enjoys! Soccer, basketball, softball, swimming, dance, gymnastics, cheer, tumbling, or even archery or rock climbing. You could even look around at gyms and see if there's one that offers kids' fitness classes. You should also look into getting a Wii or Xbox 360 Kinect. Both great ways for kids to stay active, but think they're just having fun playing video games LOL You could also try biking, walking, or hiking as a family. See if there's a park in your area with a nice walking trail. If there's a lake near where you live, try kayaking.
The point is not that she needs to lose weight, but that she needs to be healthy. She needs to start learning what foods are good for her body and which ones aren't, and that it's ok to have junk food in moderation. She needs to learn that staying active should be a way of life, and that exercise can be fun.

Being that she is 9 both the constantly being hungry and the weight gain are most likely due to her body getting ready for puberty. Girls that age often develop a barrel shaped stomach.

I don't think it is too early to start talking to her about portions or weight or puberty and the changes that happen. Have her eat a normal 1 serving meal, then make her wait a while before eating something else. Talk to her about how it takes her stomach 20 minutes to tell the brain it's full. Make her slow down on eating and chew everything more. Teach her it's good to savor her food as she eats it.

As for the sweating, she's just going to have to learn that you sweat and you can take a shower, change clothes, wipe off, etc. after your done with physical activity. Get out and do the physical activity with her, let her see you sweat and how you deal with it (positively, I hope!).

Her body is getting ready to go through great changes, she needs her family there to help her understand it all and coach her along.