The document recounts a parent's frustrating experience navigating the NHS resources after being informed that their four-year-old is overweight. Initially, the parent found the information unhelpful and misguiding, as it suggested calorie restriction, which is not recommended for young children. Ultimately, the parent discovered valuable resources, particularly from 'portionwise.net', emphasizing that children should not undergo calorie restriction.

1. What should a four year old
weigh?
When the NCMP informs a parent their
child is overweight, what questions do
they ask and what is their online
journey?
May 2014

2. When I received that letter in January 2014, I followed the
links supplied and was left upset, ill-informed and angry.
Later on when I found out – after several phone calls - that no
four year old should be put on a restricted diet, I was shocked.
The NHS sites I’d been recommended did nothing to dispel my
assumption that a reduced calorie diet would be the right
thing to do next.
These slides show the path I took through the NHS supplied
links, in search of answers to a simple set of questions.

3. I think there are a set of practical questions any parent would
want answered immediately:
What weight should a four year old be?
How much weight per week should he be losing?
How many calories should a four year old have – and made up
of what?
How many calories should he have to lose weight?
What is the right portion size for protein, vegetables, carbs
and grains?
What is an acceptable calorie count for a child’s meal?

4. First link followed:
http://www.nhs.uk/ncmp4

5. Nothing about
four year olds,
but does
suggest using
MyFitnessPal

6. Nothing about
recommended calories
for a child

7. Nothing about
four year olds

8. Nothing about
four year olds

9. Nothing that answered any of my questions – I was
increasingly angry….
Nothing to suggest I shouldn’t put my child on a
diet. In fact advice to use MyFitnessPal

10. Second link
followed:
http://www.nhs
.uk/change4life
/Pages/change-
for-life.aspx

11. Entered search
term “Four Year
Olds”

13. “Me Size Meals”
I was furious.

14. Suggested, finally
after several phone
calls, by lady at Civic
Centre, Twickenham
lady. You need to
scroll for the
information….

15. Finally some
useful, practical
advice

16. By blogging about it, I came across the best
resource so far. Exactly the information you are
looking for as a parent, a sensible ‘user journey’ to
get to it: www.portionwise.net

19. Portionwise links through to: http://w82go.ie/for-
parents-2/healthy-growth-and-development/
Which is the first place I found the critical advice
that you should not put a young child on a calorie
restricted diet.