picture of 4 yr old of what the school calls "Obese"

fattypattybinger

I have done screening for kids in school but I never heard of a School Nurse doing a Home Visit. Unfortunately this is something that is part of the School System so she was doing her job. I agree ask to have it done again. Actually if you have concerns about the Nurse call the Board of Education and ask for tthe Supervisor.

SairahRose

Yeah, I know I said in the other thread about my son being all bones and muscle - his note said he was overweight and I threw it in the bin.
I wouldn't pander to the school if you're doing everything right. Tell the school they have no right to have a home visit - if they need to discuss anything they can do so at the school office, although to be fair, I'd just ignore both the letter and the school.

supersmiles11

There were many responses to my post that the school says my granddaughter is too fat. Here is a picture of her. Granted she is not a skinny little girl but I do not believe this is "Obese" (thier word). She weighs 44 pounds. But I think it is because she is solid and not fat. I checked her height myself and she is 3 foot 3 inches without shoes.

She is beautiful, not obese or overweight. I pray she doesn't know what the school has been saying for it is so very morally wrong for a child who is clearly healthy and not either obese or overweight. The world has officially gone mad!

gingerveg

I don't think she looks big either she looks like a kid. Kids go through so many stages. She is just so adorable

DollyMiel

I was lurking in the other thread and I agreed with a lot of people who said a lot of parents are in denial about their children being obese.

But that kid is definitely not! Maybe she doesn't have a tiny frame, but she is so far from fat it's stupid. I would just politely tell the school to back off and say that's for the girl's doctor to decide.


On another note, I think she looks like Bindi Irwin (the Croc Hunter's daughter). Haha.

dutchman24

My first reaction would be to tear a hide off the person at school. This child looks pefect for her age! This is an example of our current "nanny" state....

chelseathinspired

All I see here is a child that is maturing and growing faster than most 4 year olds. She does look bigger than most 4 year olds I'm around. That doesn't make her fact though. She'd perfectly proportioned. She has a 20.3 bmi for her height and weight, she is completely healthy. And she looks very happy too. I'd definitely file some sort of suit over this. Schools shouldn't even be allowed to tell parents how to raise their children anyways.

veganbaum

Wow, you're taking this waaaay to personally. You're creating a lot of unnecessary emotions here. (I refer to this as drama)

Just say "Thanks, but we're on top of things, and see the pediatrician regularly."

The end.

Pretty much this. In one post the granddaughter was 3ft, in this one 3ft, 3in. While I doubt the OP *meant* to create confusion, the posts have. A lot of people, especially on the other thread, took it to mean the granddaughter was *told* by the nurse she was fat, which is highly unlikely, to say the least.

It seems like the OP took this *very* personally and came here to vent and for validation. Sometimes venting is necessary for mental and emotional health, but to take something like this so personally is a little over the top. Either ignore the note, take the granddaughter to a pediatrician just to be safe, and/or call the nurse and tell her that you appreciate her concern, but you are on top of your granddaughter's health and she is fine (or even better, understand the chart that was used and call and explain that you know the chart works like this, but all it means is this, and if she lost 4 pounds (or whatever) she would be in the healthy range, so you're not concerned (plenty of people in this thread and possibly the other one have explained how the charts work)). Then breathe and move on.

marsellient

What a gorgeous little girl; however, I find it odd that so many posters on a site that advocates health and fitness are outraged by a note coming from school, mandated, no doubt, by some regulation or other that's been put in place to try to address a need, or perceived need in society. Whenever there's an issue that requires some kind of public education the first thing that's always heard is a cry for the schools to address the problem. Well, obesity is a huge problem, and while a mistake may have been made in this case, it shouldn't require much to correct it. A phone call to the appropriate person saying that you've checked her BMI and it is fine, or that you'll see her paediatrician should be sufficient. I do hope that this lovely child hasn't been subjected to a lot of talk about this in her home. That truly would be harmful to her.

kellystr8

She is not even over weight. She's young so obviously has a baby face. What sort of school does she go to? Seems like they're trying to encourage anorexia from an early age.

That's what I was thinking!

charlotta5162

She is beautiful and healthy looking. I understand obesity is a bad problem in our country that starts early on but this is ridiculous. Doctors and schools need to realize that scales and charts are guidelines tha don't apply to every child. My kids don't fit the mold either but they once were both considered underweight but they eat and are active. My youngest is 7 and weighs 39 lbs but is close to 4 ft tall he is severely adhd, asthmatic and we believe aspergers as well. He eats but is always on the go, I don't worry about it because I was little like that until I was 9 or 10. This sounds like a school on a mission to make everyone fit their idea of what a child should be. I should add he sees a developmental pediatrician and other doctors on a regular basis.

SouthernDad

The opinion that I would put more stock in would be the child's doctor. I have a friend who had a situation very similar. However, in Georgia sometimes, DFACS gets involved in these situations. The school nurse still insisted that the child was obese when the child's pediatrician stated that child was in the high normal range. Since DFACS really couldn't argue with a doctor's opinion they dropped it. In the years since then, the child has really sprouted height. She's now a very slim 12 year old.

nphect

i am in the army, and even the army has their taping and measuring for overweight and obese all messed up because their is all these women who are different shapes and sizes, bottom line they have no clue what their doing. I'll just go ahead and assume that this translates to the civilian world also.

kokoforskinny

I think she looks absolutely adorable. You or her mom has nothing to worry about. I would go on with life and disregard the school. You know how she eats and how active she is.

Heather_Rider

By looking at her, i dont think there is anything "obese" about her, however I do have one concern.

I read the other thread, and ive read this one.

The school checked her. They sent a note home. Im sure the parents are upset & have voiced their opinion. Its been mentioned to you, and you are voicing your opinion. You said you have checked her height yourself. Have you also weighed her?

Im concerned that the child has now been weighed and measured at school.. the note was sent home... mom & dad are freaking.. grandma is stressing.. everyone is poking, weighing, measuring & upset...

YOU GUYS NEED TO STOP. Shes getting the wrong message at a VERY young age there is something WRONG with her body.

Tear up the letter, tell her shes beautiful, STOP responding to it AT ALL, dont even discuss it. If you get another letter, go into the school & tell that principal that if that nurse as much as speaks to your child unless she is sick or injured you will file a lawsiut against her. STAND UP FOR HER and ler her see that. NOT that you are all freaking & measuring. For the sake of this beautiful little girl's aneorexic future.. stop obsessing over a chart, a letter and a percentile. SHES FOUR.

I say this with love and respect because I too went down the same road, only with my daughter being TOO SMALL. I even had to have her tested for genetic disorders because she wasnt growing... turns out.. shes just small! Nothing wrong with her,but now she thinks that means she can eat whatever and lay around and she will never gain an ounce.. and shes 15! So im having to fix all of that now, and believe me ITS HARD! I hope things get worked out, shes a beautiful angel.

katmix

I haven't read your other thread, but will look for it.

I just ran those figures through the NHS BMI calculator (with her age too) and it says that she is on the 99th centile for weight for her age and is obese.

Just for reference my almost 7 year old weighs 38lbs and is 3'8" tall.

Your granddaughter is gorgeous, but I think her parents need to be mindful of what she eats and how much exercise she gets. It might just be toddler chubbiness hanging on, or she might be due a growth spurt (mine always get chubby and then suddenly shoot up in height) which are making the figures look worse. In which case it is nothing to worry about. But we all as parents have a responsibility to help our children grow up as healthily as they can.

/\ This.

My son's pediatrician never expressed a concern regarding my son's weight (or much of anything else) but when I took him to a specialist at one point, the paperwork we received listed him as "mildly obese". Ouch. Of course it stings, but to be fair - my son was chubby. As is your precious granddaughter (and I can't even see her full on, and can see that she is large).

Would you never take your school nurse's opinion on anything? My children's pediatrician did their exams (including eye/ear) prior to school every year, but it was the school nurse that caught one son's eye problem when she did his eye check. Of course I whisked him off to an eye specialist, but in the space of 4 short years - he almost completely lost the vision in that eye. I credit the nurse for catching something the pediatrician didn't.

Don't get bent out of shape. You know there are issues with food in your life, and is there the possibility that there is in your granddaughter's home and life? Be proactive and not defensive, and wish you well! :flowerforyou:

sunsnstatheart

I have to agree with the few posters who say that this is being blown out of proportion by a grandparent who is taking this very personally. Yes, the child is cute, but she does appear to be on the heavier end of the spectrum, and a child doesn't need to look like Honey Boo Boo (or however you spell it) before she has a problem. Checking a few websites, the child is in the 95-99 percentiles and that is considered obese. I'm not saying that this is the final word, but rather than throwing a fit, threatening to file a lawsuit, etc., the parents should LISTEN to what the school nurse has to say, DISCUSS it with their family doctor, and then make a decision after some REFLECTION on the feedback provided. Being protective of your children doesn't mean preventing any criticism whatsoever. It means taking potential risks to their health and well-being seriously . . . and occasionally playing interference when you run across the occasional crazy educator.

As for the posters that are more worried about self esteem than health, the parents don't even have to discuss this with the child. The parents control what she eats and what activities she's involved with. Its up to them to put her on a healthy track and give her the fundamentals of healthy living. I tend to think kudos to the school nurse for raising the issue. The same goes for school nurses who raise issues of physical and sexual abuse, bullying, cutting and suicide risk, alcohol abuse, etc. And, sure there are those few nurses who have their own over-blown agendas. Same with teachers, doctors, psychologists, and everyone else from whom we seek advice and guidance.

danifo0811

I don't think she is obese but I also think you are over reacting. It should be followed up on even if you think it is crap.

Measurements can be off. 1-2 inches or a couple pounds is a huge difference. When my first daughter was a year, she was weighed at 2 different doctors within 5 days and there was a 3 lbs difference! That was the difference between maintaining her place on the growth curve and them wanting weight checks and a visit with a dietitian. I was hurt at the implication I was starving my child but was welcome to suggestions. She is just small and super active... at 4 she is 41 inches and 33 lbs.

I got picked up by the school eye checks as needing glasses. As long as the schools are handling the weight issue discreatly I'm fine with it. Eating disorders go both ways and I think there are more widespread issues with over eating than under eating in North America. I don't think all parents with overweight children realize their kids are at an unhealthy weight. What if your granddaughter was 55 lbs or 65 lbs? should they say something then? it is much easier to catch someone at a high normal weight than to fix a morbidly obese child on 5 years.

I think it comes down to no one wants to hear there is anything wrong with their weight or their young kids. I've seen lots of posts of people here complaining that their doctor had the insensitivity to call them obese. I've seen news stories where doctors don't want to mention children's weight because the parents get so mad. The guidelines are there for a reason ... to make you think about reality. instead of blindly freaking out, get a proffesional opinion about her diet, size and activity level. Then you can decide if this is anything to worry about.

Umeboshi

The school can shove it.

lmbs1966

Educated idiots? Control freaks? Are they related to Bloomberg? lol No worries, she looks fine, a cute, normal child.