Hi

[hello]

hi,i feel like my 12 year old daughter weighs too much she is 5'2 at 138 ibs do you think she is a little bit over wieght? she ia also starting track using the "ab lounge" and does soccer in the spring sometimes she is very muscular in the thigh area too

she is very involved in sports but she tells me she wants too have skinnyer legs not muscular ones do you have any advice?:confused:

[.V.]

At 12 years old she needs to grow into her weight, not worry about losing any.

Lots of exercise and a balanced diet of 10-15 calories per pound should get her on the right track. She needs protein for growth, fat for good health and proper digestion, and carbohydrates for energy and insulin boosts which promote growth.

Actual restriction dieting would be a terrible thing for her right now, she needs her nutrition for the next few years for some very important growth. Brain growth, hormone function, muscle growth, strong bones and teeth...all of these come from the food she eats.

If she's interested a moderate weight training program might be good, even with bodyweight.

Lots of cardiovascular activity to support those sports, running, sprinting, bike riding, even long walks are good. Make it fun and exciting and she'll be ready to participate.

My 11 year old gets a little chubby in the winter when her only sport is basketball and she can't get out to play as much. Then in the summer working out for softball and getting in shape for the fall cheerleading season trims her right up with all the running and bike riding she does, add a few miles of walking up and down the creeks while fishing with dad a few days a week, some swimming... The difference is in the exercise because she gets pretty much the same balanced diet all the time.

Get yours interested in more physicial activity and find a fun way for her to train for it and she'll be very happy with the results without getting an "I'm too fat and need a diet" complex.

[LiftGirl]

I would recommend having a doctor asses her and see what he/she thinks. The doctor can also give you advice on what to do if she is overweight. I think you need to be real careful with kids; like andy says, you can really give them a complex that can last a lifetime.

[Maxgain]

I would be interested in her diet. At her age and high activity counting calories is generally not necessary its what makes up the diet that is important as long as she is active.
From the basic stats it does indeed sound like she is overweight for a 12 year old but without actually seeing/ knowing more that is just speculation

[minime]

10-15 cals per pound seems a bit extreme to me (my little sister is nine,about 70lbs and she can put it away lol, she must eat 2k a day and she isnt even v active), i would say forget counting calories also : focus on good healthy foods, and on physical activity.

Its a difficult age to be sure, so tread lightly. Good luck!

[CF-OC_gal]

I think as her mom you should encourage her to understand that wanting skinnier thighs is fleeting goal of no consequence. Redirect her thinking towards improving her soccer and academic achievements.

As an athlete her thigh size will be a natural result of her god given talents and how she uses them.

Save the young girls from specific target areas of their body as being bad, not good enough because they are not slim enough.