Boys are exercising less and eating worse for a variety of reasons. As a result, childhood obesity in the United States is at an all-time high. It's important that boys reach and maintain an ideal weight to prevent serious health risks. Some techniques are available to calculate whether your boy is of an ideal weight.
Body Mass Index Technique
To determine the ideal weight for a boy, calculate his body mass index. Body mass index, or BMI, is a number that represents the ratio of height to weight. It's used by fitness and health professionals to screen for potential health risks associated with obesity. A body mass index calculation exists for children ages 2 through 19, which works by comparing your boy's weight to others of the same sex and age. To calculate a boy's body mass index, determine the child's height and weight. An online body mass index percentile calculator can be used to determine your boy's BMI for age percentile value. For example, a 10-year-old boy who is 4 feet and weighs 50 lb. has a BMI of 15.3 and thus is in the 15th percentile and would be considered at a healthful weight.
BMI For Age Percentile Growth Chart
After you've calculated a boy's BMI for age percentile value, compare that value to a percentile growth chart. If your boy is in the less than fifth percentile, they are considered underweight. A healthy weight would fall into the fifth to the 85th percentile range. Boys within the 85th to the 95th percentile would be overweight, and scoring at the 95th percentile and above would mean your boy is considered obese.
Growth Chart
A growth chart can also be used to estimate a boy's ideal weight. The standard growth chart is provided by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention and offers averages of children's values based on age, sex and height. A growth chart might not necessarily indicate overweight or obesity problems because of genetic and personal growth differences, but it can be used to screen for potential problems.
Significance
Reaching and maintaining an ideal weight is important for boys because too much body fat can lead to serious health conditions at an early age. According to Kids Health, one out of three children in the United States is considered overweight or obese. Boys who are overweight or obese are at risk of developing high blood pressure and cholesterol, joint and bone issues, sleep problems and depression.
Prevention/Solution
To prevent your boy from becoming overweight or to help them reach a healthful weight requires an overall healthful lifestyle from the entire family. Emphasis should be placed on healthy eating habits and regular physical activity. Prepare low-fat home-cooked meals, incorporate daily family outdoor playtime activities and limit TV and video game time.
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