From carla, Child's Age 6 - 03/01/09 - IP#: 99.10.165.xxx  Click here to reply  
I have a 6 year old little girl, who suffers from severe allergies and asthma. She is constantly on steriods that make her appitite very high. She is a big girl, 4ft2in and is 89 pounds. She is very proud of who she is and embraces her body. We neber say the "F" word(fat) in our house. Instead we openly talk about "Healthy" food and making the right choices. She totaly understands the differance between "Healthy" and "Junk" but still has a Big problem loosing any weight. She is very active. Cheerleading,bike riding, swimming, but still her body never changes. Iv talked to docs and they say to keep away from junk foods and sodas, but that is not the problem. I really think she has a medical issue that the docs wont belive me. Also taking constant Steroids isnt the best thing to do when your wanting to loose weight. She is the only one out of our 4 kids with this issue...Is there any other parents out there srugling with the same thing? My heart is breaking for her becasue I know how mean kids can be. She is only in Kindergarden, so it hasent really hit her yet. But her self esteam is high and she is a happy girl...
Reply from Kim, Child's Age 6 - 07/16/09  - IP#: 65.116.144.xxx
My daughter is 6, 49 inches tall and weighs 80 pounds. My nearly 9 year old son is tall & skinny and I am also not overweight, though my husband is ( and he is diabetic). My daughter plays basketball, soccer, swims, dances and is a very upbeat, personality-plus type of a person.
The dr is always trying to get her to at least maintain her weight, but she keeps adding pounds. We keep healthy food in the house but she is always hungry. She constantly asks for snacks, especially if she is at a friend's house because they typically have chips & cookies as opposed to the applesauce and healthier choices at our house.
 
Reply from vanessa - 05/02/09  - IP#: 76.242.33.xxx
Please don't worry about it. Some kids just have a slow metablism. She sounds exactly like me when i was little. I exersized so much when i was younger yet i was always the fat one and i also ate supper healthy. If you pressure her into any sort of diet it could lead to an eating disorder like it did with me.
 
Reply from Taylor, Age 15 - 03/03/09  - IP#: 75.66.64.xxx
It must be tough on both of you. My sister goes into anaphylatic (who really knows how to spell that? XD)shock when she's near latex and she's sickly with other illnesses as well, so I know it can be stressful on a family for a child to have those kind of health issues. And usually when someone is on steroids, it's usually never safe to take them off, unless it for something temporary. But it definitely wouldn't be safe for your daughter. However, despite the extra weight she still can be healthy as long as she eats right and stays active. To help with self-esteem just make sure to always remind her how beautiful she is, and if she's ever bullied at school, don't be afraid to talk to a counselor, a teacher, or even the principal to get things resolved. You don't have to feel bad for her about it, because she can live a normal life. Living in a society where so much emphasis is put on weight, especially for girls, it will never be easy, but if you're supportive and always there for her, I'm sure she'll be fine...
 
Reply from carla, Child's Age 6 - 03/02/09  - IP#: 99.10.165.xxx
Thanks Taylor..thats just what I have been fearing. But she is a very sick girl. She has been hospitalized a dozen times for her asthma. She is also an anaphalactic (haha spell chech that one!) which means if she eats certain things she has minutes till she will die. Its so scarey. But we have all grown aware of it. She still likes to eat, but getting her off steroids is not an option for her. It dosnt lessen my sorrow for her, which I never let her see.
 
Reply from Taylor, Age 15 - 03/02/09  - IP#: 75.66.64.xxx
Steroids are the likely cause of weight gain, and if she needs them, then there isn't anything you can do. But if you still want tests run, just to be sure, and your doctors "won't believe" you, find a new doctor. A good doctor will run whatever test a parent feel there child needs to be sure they are okay. My mother once order a CT scan when I was dehydrated and they had to do it. And it's not like you aren't going to have to pay for the tests, but for your peace of mind the doctors should run them.
Though it is most likely just the steroids, and unless she comes off of them it'll make it almost impossible for her to lose the weight.