very thin DS can see his ribs and chest bones

[arseinparsley]

my DS nearly 7 is sooo thin, he eats like a horse, actually almost all the time, loves food and eats everything I give him. But he is so thin, I have never seen a child with so little body fat. I have checked his weight 3st 2lb and height 126cm and this gives him a BMI of 12.9 and under the 1st percentile. Would this warrant a GP trip anyone else with very thin kids?

[Parietal]

Yes, I think under 1st centile means worth checking.

[CocktailQueen]

Yes, I agree. Get him checked out, if only for your peace of mind. My DS is very similar - perhaps I should weigh him too. Eats like a horse but vv active all the time unlike his mother

[BravePotato]

See a GP to put your mind at rest

[arseinparsley]

thanks for the advice, I did talk to the GP in the springtime and he just asked does he eat well I said yes and he replied that's OK then. Maybe they might think I am a bit potty for taking him.

[Bramblesinforrin]

Yes, check it out. I hope he is otherwise well, but keep an eye out for anything else that you could mention to your gp - eg, excessive thirst/weeing, energy levels, reactions to any food (... Check down the loo!).

[StrumpersPlunkett]

I get how worrying it is.
DS2 is 8 in a few weeks time and weighs under 3.5 stones 130cm
I hate being able to see his heart beating through his rib cage.

however, he is eating better and has loads of energy, he is very rarely ill.
Dr isn't worried but was very happy for me to have gone to check.

I get really tempted to feed him rubbish so he will put on weight but it isn't good weight is if I do that??

[HorizontalRunningOnly]

My ds is skinny ribs too but eats a lot. I was thinking real butter, blue top milk adds up the calories a bit but he doesn't get chubbier!!

[LonnyVonnyWilsonFrickett]

Of course you should go to the gp if you are worried, I took ds last year and he gave me a print-out chart to keep track of things. But basically he said if ds is happy and energetic, then it's all fine. someone has to be on the 1st centile, you know?

[Cheesypasta]

Does he eat much high-calorie food? I know you said he eats everything you give him, but it's worth looking at what that is. My DS is a little younger and is also slender - he eats plenty of cake and must burn it off as he's very active. Does he drink whole milk, for instance? I know lots of parents have been advised to move to skimmed or semi-skimmed after 5 (or even earlier) but I am dubious about that and certainly wouldn't with a skinny child.

I would go and see your GP - or a different one at the practice anyway, as it might put you mind at rest. Who cares if they think you're potty? You're trying to do the best for your boy. I bet they wouldn't anyway.