My pre-teen daughter’s body is changing before my eyes!

by | Last updated May 10, 2024 | Addressing Weight Concern, Healing Parent’s Food Challenges

This transformation has been going on since she was about 8-9 years old. As a parent, it’s truly incredible and to be honest – sometimes frightening to watch.

“Where did my little girl go?”

I support many parents of pre-teen and teen girls and boys in my clinic who are concerned that their child’s weight seems to increase at around this time.

Parents, we get shaky.

We want to give our kids “the talk” about eating healthy, not eating so much junk, about “watching their weight” (whatever that means!).

We can do WAY more harm than good by having these talks…

The truth is: laying down of fat stores in the pre-teen and teen years is a NORMAL part of development for girls and also boys (boys usually a little later). It’s dangerous to confuse it with abnormal weight gain.

YES, this is a time where feeding relationships may need tweaking for everybody to stay on track, especially as kids gain more freedom with feeding and eating and are starting to make some of these choices themselves.

If you are unsure, seek advice from a trusted health professional who you know will not make you feel bad about your parenting or your child feel bad about their body:

  • Someone who can support your family to establish a healthy relationship with food if that’s needed
  • Someone who can help you support your child to grow in the way that nature intended

I love this article from Maryann Jacobsen RD from Raise Healthy Eaters called Your Adolescent Daughter Doesn’t Have a Weight Problem. She’s Going Through Puberty.

It explains more about girls’ growth in puberty. I hope she does one for boys soon.

Here’s to our older kids navigating puberty with a healthy body image and loving and appreciating their changing bodies!

Eat Happy!
Deb Blakley
Accredited Practising Dietitian

About the Author

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Deb Blakley, Accredited Practising Dietitian
Kids Dig Food ®
Deb Blakley, Founder, Director and Lead Accredited Practising Dietitian of Kids Dig Food®, is a Paediatric Dietitian with 25+ years of diverse experience and is recognised for her expertise in providing neurodiversity affirming, weight neutral and trauma-informed care for children with complex needs and their families. Deb is passionate about supporting parents, carers and educators to positively & joyfully connect or reconnect with food & eating and share this with the children in their care.
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