Why is my daughter fat.

[adnama5]

My daughter is 7 years old and she is in 11-12 clothes. She eats all the right kind of foods. Brown bread with different seeds in. Fruit and vegetables are a favourite. I grill everything and she has everything low in fat and sugar. She has had alot of tonsilitus. In fact she has had it 8 times in 4 months. Yesterday, the doctor told me she has swollen glands in her stomach. She has also had tests for diabetes and thyroid and they were apparently normal. Please can someone give me some advice.

[mini_d]

Hi,

There are other conditions like Cohen syndrome, LMB, Carpenter syndrome, Ahlstrom where childhood obesity is seen. After consultation with the nutritionist, if you find that there is no issue of excess calories, discuss the possibilities of endocrine abnormalities as well as the above syndromes with your doctor and let him decide which specialist u should go to.

Regards

[Dr. Kokil Mathur]

Hi
Thanks for writing to the forum!
I can understand your concern. In general childhood obesity is due to eating more and exercising less. I understand that she eats healthy food. However it could still be more than what she needs. Make a list of all she consumes daily with the portions she took for a week. Consult a nutrition specialist to check if the total calories are more than what she needs. Also if she does not exercise enough, you can put her into sports activities that will help her burn calories.

I understand that she was tested for diabetes. However a single test is usually not enough. You may need to repeat the test both fasting and two hours after food or maybe take a glucose challenge test.

Rarely diseases like Prader-Willi syndrome and Cushing's syndrome is the culprit. You can consult an endocrine specialist for this.

In kids another possibility is involvement of kidneys. A kidney function tests should be carried out.

Hope this helps. Please let me know if there is any thing else and do keep me posted. Take care!

[caregiver222]

You don't need "your doctor". You need a specialist called an endochrinologist. There are several possible causes of childhood obesity, including a genetic metabolic disorder.

In such a case an "exercise" program is meaningless.

There are several options that you can discuss with such a specialist.

[mini_d]

Hi,

First, please do not get worried. The problem can be tackled.

If your daughter's thyroid and sugar levels are normal and still she is very fat, pleae ask your doctor to check for congenital diseases which cause childhood obesity. Please ask your daughter to follow a regular exercise regimen.

Do get back if you have any other queries.

Regards