As a parent, it is normal to worry about your child's weight as he grows and experiences physical changes. Every child is different and undergoes physical development at different rates, so the concept of an "ideal body weight" does not apply. Rather than chasing a specific number, focus on helping your child to avoid developing an unhealthy percentage of body fat.
Weight and Physical Development
A child's weight is affected by factors such as age, gender and physical build. Weight gain is common for both boys and girls during puberty. Hormones stimulate the growth of breasts and other physical changes in girls, while boys experience changes in height and musculature. Throughout puberty, there is an ongoing shift in the proportion of fat, muscle and bone in the body, says KidsHealth.org. As a result, children of a similar age may not have the same weight due to differences such as height and body type.
Body Mass Index
The Body Mass Index, or BMI, is a helpful resource used to determine the percentage of body fat in children and teens aged 2 to 20. A child's height and weight are used to calculate her BMI, and the resultant value is compared to a growth chart that factors in age and gender to generate percentile rankings. A BMI that falls within the 5th to 84th percentiles is considered healthy. Although your child's weight is expected to shift during puberty, his or her body fat percentage should still stay within this percentile range.
Weight Classifications
The Body Mass Index classifies children in the 85th to 94th percentiles as overweight, and children in the 95th percentile or above as obese, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. A BMI that is below the 5th percentile is considered underweight. Being overweight or obese puts children at the risk of developing conditions such as type 2 diabetes, high cholesterol, high blood pressure and respiratory complications. An extremely low body weight may indicate that there is an eating disorder or another serious health issue, says mayoclinic.com.
Considerations
While beneficial, the Body Mass Index is not an exact calculation and cannot consider all of the factors that influence each child's individual weight. Your pediatrician is familiar with your child's health and growth patterns, and can provide a more accurate assessment. Using additional factors such as your family's lifestyle, eating practices, physical activity and medical history, a doctor is able to track the progress of your child's growth and determine whether action should be taken to achieve a healthier weight.
Warning
Avoid placing frequent emphasis on your child's weight. Instead, set good examples for healthy eating. Calling attention to a child's excess weight may affect her self-esteem and lead to increased overeating. Parents should also discourage harmful dieting that deprives the body of essential nutrients and interrupts normal development. The Mayo Clinic recommends making gradual lifestyle changes, such as increased physical activity, to promote natural weight loss in children over 7. In most cases, children under 7 should maintain the current weight, allowing the body's composition to even out over time as the child's height increases.
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