A DAD has been accused of "emotionally damaging" his nine-year-old daughter - after putting her on a gruelling diet and gym routine.

The unnamed father said he'd noticed his little girl had "started putting on weight", after he split up with her mum.

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In a Reddit post he said he takes her to the gym four times a week and has started controlling her portion sizes.

He said he packs her "lean lunches" each day, to try and help her lose weight.

But the dad has faced a wave of backlash online, with many people claiming he's "body shaming" and "emotionally damaging" his young daughter.

Top dietitian Helen Bond told The Sun kids must be encouraged to develop a healthy relationship with food and exercise.

If not, she warned, it can pave the way for young children to develop eating disorders.

The dad told Reddit readers that he decided to kick-start his daughter's rigid regime after he noticed shehad put on weight following his separation from her mother.

He wrote: "She's not obese but seeing her in person, I've noticed she has a belly which hangs over her waistband, and she wears 12-13 clothes despite only being nine."

The dad claimed he raised it with his daughter's mother, who got "defensive".

He said her "skinny and healthy" mum pointed out that their daughter, who he refers to as 'M', eats the same diet as her and plays sport twice a week.

Despite this, the dad, who looks after 'M' on alternate weeks, still enforced his own routine and started taking his daughter to parent and child classes at the gym.

He also stopped letting her buy food and begun using a portion control plate.

he said he recently sent his daughter to a birthday party at the cinema with a bag of veggie sticks and hummus to show that "snacks can be healthy".

Despite this, he said he faced more backlash from his ex-partner.

He added: "Next day ex texts. I head over and ex isn't happy, M is upset and won't look at me.

"Apparently when they were sat waiting for the movie kids started comparing snacks.

"M told the other kids that they were gonna get fat and unhealthy because their parents gave them those snacks.

"She said she had to eat the veggies so she could lose weight, and she wasn't allowed any popcorn (I never said this).

"Then at their house after they ordered pizza for the kids - M refused to eat saying she was gonna get fat. The parents called ex and she came and got her.

"M was crying saying that she was scared if she ate anything bad she'd put on weight and everyone would hate her.

"She told ex about our diet and gym. I hadn't because it was my weeks and why should I divulge all our plans."

The dad claims his daughter's mum says she often refuses to eat and blamed the dad for giving her a complex.

He argued that if she was healthy she "wouldn't have a belly and be bigger than other girls", saying: "At least I care about what the girl puts in her mouth."

STUDIES show that weight training can beneficial for children especially those aged over 13 - but it's vital that they're supervised.

Some lifts can put too much pressure on developing joints and growing bones, which is why children and teens should never be allowed to train alone or push themselves.

Extra protein can be useful for a growing body, and protein shakes can help to get vital nutrients in to fussy eaters.

But if being served alongside an already balanced diet, there is a risk of overloading on protein.

This puts the kidneys under unnecessary strain. and excess protein can be turned to fat.

Letting kids take part in 5km runs can be safe - as long as they are going at a pace that is comfortable for them.

It's also vital to let youngsters have plenty of rest both after exercise and before their next session.

It led to the mum telling him that M was happier before he moved back to the area and she would stop letting him see her if he didn't stop "emotionally damaging" her.

The dad's revelation has sparked a heated debate on Reddit - with many claiming he was "body shaming" his daughter.

One wrote: "Don't body shame your nine year old daughter.

"There's a huge difference between living healthy and the s*** your doing. A nine year old shouldn't be concerned over eating a piece of pizza and becoming fat."

And another added: "If your daughter is crying about her weight and scared to eat then you have gone about this poorly. This is the definition of 'emotional damage'.

"You may have good intentions but something is going very wrong here. You're the a**hole for not taking that on board."

Registered dietitian Helen Bond is now urging parents to be "good role models" to kids when it comes to food and exercise.

She said it's OK to regulate portion size but added it should all be about balance and variation - and not referred to as a diet.

Its important that as parents, we be good role models

She told The Sun Online: "Eating and lifestyle habits are established early in life and sadly in todays society with huge social media influences to look a certain way, many children are growing up with eating disorders and unhealthy associations to food.

"So its important that as parents, we be good role models and help our kids develop a healthy relationship with food and exercise and encourage them to eat a healthy, varied diet keeping to child sized portions - to help ensure they obtain all the necessary nutrients they need for good health and optimal growth and development.

"It's certainly not a diet but a way of life that will lay down the foundations for their future good healthas adults."

Revealed

Despite this, leading fitness expert Daniel Herman, founder of sports nutrition brandBio-Synergy, believes children should be hitting the gym - with supervision.

He said: "There are plenty of types of exercise and activity that all children can participate in, whether that be competitively or for fitness or recreation.

"Depending on the age of the child, weight lifting may not be appropriate due to risk of injury, that said if properly supervised and structured it can certainly be beneficial."

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Dad accused of emotionally damaging his daughter, 9, with tough gym and diet routine - The Sun