Children are constantly growing -- both mentally and physically -- making it hard for parents to keep up with their growing kids. Monitoring your child's weight is one way to make sure they're growing correctly. Some weight loss or gain is to be expected by a growing child, but too much in either direction could be a warning sign.
Normal Growth
There is no one healthy number you should be looking for when it comes to your child's weight. Every kid is different, but there are healthy ranges which your child's pediatrician will keep in mind as they follow his growth over the years. You should talk to your doctor at any point if you become concerned about your child's weight gain or loss.
BMI
BMI stands for body mass index, and is a formula used to determine if your child is in a healthy weight range in relation to her height, according to KidsHealth.org. Doctors use a BMI chart -- one for boys and one for girls -- to determine what percentile your child is in based on averages compiled from statistics across the country. For example, if your child is in the 25th percentile for BMI, that means that 75 percent of children have a higher BMI than your child. If your child is in the 90th percentile, then 90 percent of children have a lower BMI than your child, and only 10 percent have a higher BMI. Your doctor will make medical decisions based on these numbers and other factors in relation to your child's weight.
Childhood Obesity
Unhealthy weight gain in children is caused by a number of different factors and has many repercussions, according to the website Mayo Clinic. Since 1980, the number of obese children has tripled, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. As of 2008, the last year for which the CDC has data, 18 percent of children ages 12 to 19 were considered obese, as compared to almost 20 percent of kids ages 6 to 11.
Risk Factors
Weight gain and loss in children can lead to several risk factors. Childhood obesity increases kids' chances for developing serious heart diseases earlier in life, including cardiovascular diseases such as high blood pressure and high cholesterol, as well as type 2 diabetes, bone and joint problems, sleep apnea and stroke. Weight loss in your child may mean she's not absorbing nutrition properly, which can be a sign of serious disease or even an eating disorder.
Prevention/Solution
If your doctor assesses your child and determines an unhealthy weight, one of the first solutions will likely be to place your child on a modified diet. For overweight children, that may mean reduced calories and fat while striving to get a balanced diet. An increase in physical activity, playing sports and limiting sedentary activities such as video games may help. For underweight children, your doctor may suggest feeding your child multiple meals a day instead of the standard breakfast, lunch and dinner, and adding extra calories to food by encouraging more whole dairy products such as whole milk, cheese and heavy cream, according to UC Davis Children's Hospital.
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