You can calculate the healthy body fat range for a 14-year-old boy using weight and height. Physicians can assess most accurately whether a teen's body fat percentage is healthy. At the same time, consulting a body mass index chart geared toward teens can provide an idea of a child's ideal weight range.
Body Mass Index
The body mass index uses a formula to estimate body fat percentage based on weight and height. You can find a BMI calculator online that can provide an estimate for your child. You enter the child's age, height, weight and gender. For example, a 14-year-old boy who is 5-foot-3 should weigh 90 to 128 lb., according to a BMI chart. A teen of the same age who is 5-foot-6 should weight 99 to 140 lb.
Interpreting BMI
On a BMI chart, you will find body fat percentage and its corresponding healthy weight range. A healthy body fat percentage for a 14-year-old boy who is 5-foot-3 is 19 to 27. A BMI chart also shows what percentile the child's weight falls into compared with other teens. Underweight teens will be lower than the 5th percentile. Children ranging from the 5th percentile to the 85th percentile of peers are considered healthy. An overweight teen will range from the 85th to less than the 95th percentile. A teen in the 95th percentile and above is considered obese.
Other Measures
BMI is just one way to calculate body fat percentage. Skinfold calipers are popular among coaches in schools and colleges, according to the University of Georgia's Exercise and Physical Fitness Page, and measure the fat under the skin. Underwater weighing is another method of measuring body fat. Since bone and muscle weigh more than water, a teen with a low body fat percentage will sink further than will a teen with a higher body fat percentage. Bioelectrical impedance is a method that calculates body fat percentage by sending an electrical current up one foot and down the other. Fat conducts electricity poorly, so someone with a low body fat percentage will show less resistance to the current.
Importance of Doctor's Visits
A doctor can most accurately tell you whether your teen's weight is in the healthy range. In addition, doctors can provide specific dietary and exercise recommendations to optimize your child's health. Fad diets and severe caloric restriction can affect a child's growth and sexual development; consulting a physician for a personalized plan is safer and more effective.
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