Overweight child: when to get help

1. 1

   Is any of this happening now?

   Call 911

   Seek emergency care for severe trouble breathing, chest pain, fainting during activity, confusion, or difficulty waking.

   Excessive thirst and urination together with vomiting, deep or rapid breathing, or marked drowsiness also need emergency assessment because they can be signs of dangerously high blood sugar.

   Other emergency signs, for anyone

   • Someone who is struggling to breathe, gasping, choking, or cannot get words out
   • Someone who has chest pain, tightness or pressure lasting more than a few minutes
   • Someone who has sudden weakness or drooping on one side of the face or body, slurred speech, or sudden confusion
   • Someone who is unconscious, or cannot be woken
   • Someone who is bleeding heavily and it will not stop with firm pressure
   • Someone who has had a seizure that will not stop, or does not wake up afterwards
   • Someone who has lips or skin that look pale, blue, grey or blotchy
   • Someone who you believe has taken an overdose or swallowed something poisonous
   Yes, one of theseNo, none of these
2. 2

   Is any of this happening?

   Be seen today

   Seek prompt medical advice if your child is severely restricting food, vomiting on purpose, using laxatives for weight control, fainting, or showing other signs of an eating disorder.

   And for anyone, someone who:

   • is getting rapidly more short of breath, or has gained several pounds in a few days with swelling
   Yes, one of theseNo, none of these
3. 3

   Does any of this apply?

   Book an appointment

   Arrange a routine appointment if you are concerned about your child's growth or if their weight has increased quickly.

   A clinician can check measurements and review the overall growth pattern rather than judging by appearance alone.

   Routine assessment is also appropriate for:

   • Frequent snoring, breathing pauses, or daytime sleepiness
   • Persistent joint pain or difficulty being active
   • Darkened, thick skin around the neck or underarms
   • Unusual thirst or urination
   • Irregular periods or concerns about puberty
   • Bullying, low mood, body shame, or secretive eating
   • Very early rapid weight gain, extreme hunger, or slowed height growth

   And for anyone, someone who:

   • has noticed a lump, a mole that has changed, or unexplained weight loss
   Yes, one of theseNo, none of these

Every sign above is quoted from the sofidex article on Overweight child. If you are not sure, err upward — it is always reasonable to be checked.