What are the signs of overeating in children?

Be on the lookout for the following five signs of overfeeding of children and tweens. Your children may have too much on their plates (literally) if:

• they spend lots of time playing with their food rather than eating it all
• they come to meals and snacks saying, “I’m not hungry!”
• the food portions on their plates are the same as yours
• they are upset, stressed, tired, or cranky, and you comfort them with food instead of hugs
• their clothes are tight in the chest, waist, or rear, even though the length is still fine

Here are some warning signs that your child may be overeating.

• rapid weight gain
• irritability or moodiness
• hiding food
• hoarding food
• rapid disappearance of food from the kitchen
• finding food hidden in your child’s room