For the past 20 years the number of obese children and teens has continued to rise, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, or CDC. This may have you wondering what the proper weight is for your child. Although there is a wide range in children's shapes and sizes, there are guidelines to help you determine if your child is at a healthy weight for his age.
BMI
Body mass index, or BMI, is a calculation used to help determine if a person's weight is in a healthy and normal range. According to the CDC it is the most accepted tool for initially assessing body fat and is calculated using a child's height and weight. It provides an initial indication about whether a child is obese, overweight, of a normal weight or underweight. A high BMI value does not necessarily mean a child has weight problems, but it does mean she should be further assessed by a doctor.
BMI and Growth Charts
A BMI value alone does not indicate whether a child is in the normal range. BMI measurements can be assessed using CDC growth charts in children and adolescents age 2 to 19. This is because children, unlike adults, have a different amount of body fat depending on their age, and there is a difference in body fat between girls and boys. Each chart gives average BMI values for each age and sex, from the 3rd to 97th percentile. So, if your child is a 10-year-old boy and has a BMI of 21, plotting his BMI on the growth charts would show he falls around the 75th percentile.
Percentiles
Percentiles compare a child's BMI to kids her own age, and rank her in relation to her peers. For example, if a 6-year-old girl's BMI is in the 25th percentile, this means that she has the same or larger BMI than 25 percent of 6-year-old girls, and a smaller BMI than 75 percent of them. Children are a healthy weight if their BMI is anywhere from the 5th percentile to less than the 85th percentile. They are underweight if they fall below the 5th percentile. Children in the 85th to less than the 95th percentile are overweight, while those equal or larger than the 95th percentile are obese.
Significance
Determining whether your child is a proper weight is important as childhood obesity is a significant health problem. In many cases obesity leads to heart disease, diabetes, sleep apnea and asthma. Many obese children have health problems that children of a healthy weight do not have, such as high blood pressure and cholesterol, and liver damage. Obese children and adolescents are often targets of social discrimination that can cause low self-esteem and affect their performance at school.
Diet and Exercise
As a parent you can help encourage healthy eating habits in your child by serving more fruits and vegetables and limiting unhealthy choices such as soda and other high-sugar foods. Involve the whole family in these changes so your child does not feel singled out. Encourage physical activity such as playing tag, sports or jumping rope and take part in outdoor activities as a family. Do not put your child or teenager on a weight-reduction diet without first consulting a doctor.
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