Live Simply Mommy

I had a disturbing doctors visit with Ariana yesterday. This was her 9 year physical and the girl is as healthy as any child I have ever known. At age 9, she was sick for the very first time ever this past February when we all caught that awful stomach bug. Prior to that she has never vomited, never had an unscheduled doctors appointment- never missed a sick day at school. Point is: she is healthy.

So, after the check-up, the doctor concurred, Ariana is perfect... except... she is 'severely' underweight. Now, all 3 of my girls have always measured from 75%-95% in their respective ages for height and 40%-50% for weight. Their father and I were always both tall and thin so the apples don't fall far from the tree. Ariana definitely has my physique.
She looks thin... but severely underweight? No. Just because that is what your little chart says, does not negate looking at her and seeing that she look like an athletic, small framed little girl. The doctor actually asked if she could test her for celiac disease. I asked her some of the symptoms... Ariana did not have any one of them. She's not sick. She is thin.

While I like my doctor and I appreciate her efforts, I really wish it was not done in front of Ariana. I try really hard to make weight a non-issue in this house (well, aside from Colby's beer belly, that is.) I try to make slight changes even when I hear Ariana referring to herself as 'skinny'. I correct her and say she is athletic or healthy. Not only do I not want her concentrating on weight, I do not want her to be making comments in front of other little girls that may cause them to look differently at themselves.

The doctor wanted me to put her on some sort of weight gain regimen. Really? She eats 3 healthy meals per day and at least 3 snacks. And you want me to force her to ingest extra calories just... because. I have researched and found that there really are no health issued with being naturally thin (restricting calories or compulsive exercise to maintain low weight is a whole other story) Anemia is one health risk, but she has not had that yet. I make a conscious effort to feed my kids healthy. No Twinkies, no soda, limited candy, limited juice. And they are very active. Ariana is a dancer- she has muscle tone and not just skin and bones. And she usually is playing at least one sport. I really wish that we could concentrate on our kids being healthy, not how much they weigh, or how they look in their bikinis.

I had these same struggles when I was a little girl... actually my whole youth. I remember having to eat Carnation instant breakfasts as a calorie booster at a very young age. And every year, at every doctors appointment, the doctor would give my mother a hard time. And she would swear to him that she wasn't starving me and that I was a good eater. It even continued into high school where I would have to eat my lunch in the guidance office. How alienating is that? All of my friends are hanging out having a grand time and I am stuck eating in the cinder block office while various adults peek out of the corner of their eyes to make sure I am not stuffing my finger down my throat into the trash can.

Needless to say, this has led to eating issues. How can it not? Which is exactly what I am trying to avoid with my 3 girls. I have a feeling it will be an uphill battle all the way. Our society is determined to be fixated on weight and I certainly can not change that.

Damn, it sucks having boobs.