Catch,

I have worked with some young children that are at risk for onset of type two diabetes and other obesity related dieases.

You never mentioned if your daughter had any metabolic issues or any prescriptions she was taking that might contribute her weight gain.

If the above has been determined that it's a non issue it's then a matter of eating well balanced meals, healthy snacks and including some form of religious daily activity. I'm not sure what activities your daughter would enjoy most but whatever it may be it will take encouragement and support from family and friends to help her stick with whatever she chooses. I know it's difficult for parents to see their child struggle with weight and you want only the best for them. Try to be honest about their health and where they need to be and at the same time be sensitive.

Keep me posted on your daughters developments with the new year.

Mark Degen, BS, ACSM, ACE, LMT

I can't wait to become a mother just so I can live vicariously through my kid on the soccer field. Actually, that's a lie--I can wait!

Enroll your daughter in a sport or the two of you could take some form of martial arts together. You'd be giving her confidence and precious memories of the two of you together as a result.

Good Luck!

Catch, getting a child to stick to a healthy eating plan is tough. I began my struggles with weight at 9 years old and I wish I knew then what I know now. Your daughter's weight issues, pending any diagnosed cause, are most likely emotional and strengthening her "being" and building her self esteem is just as important as her eating right. In fact, eating right will come from her strength in herself and her healthy and well adjusted self esteem. I'm not taking shots at your parenting or anything. So many kids are hugely affected by the social environments they find themselves in in school. Help her to navigate her way in the micro world she has now in school where there are mean people, unfair people, etc. Help her to see herself as an able and strong person who can be resilient in what seems like a difficult and impossible social gauntlet. Here are a few tips I think would have made an incredible difference for me:
1. Self esteem builders. Martial arts is great but really anything she can find for herself where she can excel. Acknowledge her strengths and what she does well often and consitently. Get others close to her to do the same.
2. Talk to her about the friends she choses. Teach her how to create her own supportive circle of friends versus feeling rejected by kids who won't accept her or appreciate her for who she is. Talk to her about what true friendship is.
3. Teach her to make boundaries with others so she can feel safe and able to protect herself in various social situations. Let her start with you and others she is safe with to learn how to make boundaries.
4. Talk to her about what is beautiful about her and encourage her to take ownership of her assets and beauty.
5. Teach her that others are cruel because they are hurting and weak versus powerful and strong. If she sees them that way she will always feel inadequate and unable to protect herself.
6. Teach her how to honor her body and self with good food that is nourishing.
7. Make her accountable to someone other than you. A nutritionist, a coach, a dietician, a friend of the family. Have her set goals with them and then check in with this person weekly.
8. Encourage her to be a leader in any area. Whether it be student council or AV club. Being obese allows her to be invisible. This will let her know she's worth seeing and experiencing.
9. Be a safe place for her to download her fears and challenges. Just listen and empower her to come up with her own solutions. Try not to be such a mom .
10. Have her do a dreamboard where she can cut out pictures from magazines that represent how she will look, act, experience the world when she reaches her goal weight. Put it on the fridge.
11. And as you have already stated, be a model for her. Model the behaviors you want for her to have. Model your own self love and self esteem for her to see how it's done.

Good luck Catch! You are obviously a caring and loving mom who wants the very best for her daughter. Just having you love her and care about her like this puts her way ahead of the game!

You're certainly not alone Catch, and I give you a lot of credit for wanting to make changes to help your daughter. Check out the books by Ellyn Satter, an expert in feeding kids and helping parents establish healthy eating habits for the entire family.
Lynn Grieger: Health, food and fitness coach

hi i am 10 years old too i weigh about 100 pounds i need to lose weight too

tell her to join sports

im a diabetic and i really want too lose weight !

im fat two plz help me