Parents: Know Your Child’s BMIThe American Academy of Pediatrics recommends using body mass index (BMI) to screen for overweight children beginning at age 2 and through age 19. BMI highlights the risk for serious medical conditions and is a good indicator of whether or not a child will grow into an overweight adult. Show
To calculate BMI, the child’s weight is divided by his/her height squared and the result multiplied by 703 (weight ÷ height2 x 703). Calculate a child’s BMI. Once parents determine their child’s BMI, they should discuss it with their doctor.
Because children can grow quickly, especially during puberty, the child’s doctor can best interpret whether a BMI score is concerning. What We Know About Kids and Obesity TodayCurrently 30% of American youth are overweight or obese*
Source: Bray 2002,Freedman D, et al 1999; Dietz 1998a, Dietzs 1998b,Guo et al. 2002; Kramer 2002; Kvaavik et al. 2003; Must 2003; Polk 2005; Whitaker et al. 1997; WIC 2002 * Richard H. Carmona, MD, MPH, FACS, Surgeon General, U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, 2004 According to the Ohio’s Children Healthy Ohio Program 2009:
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Some doctors discuss weight by referring to weight-for-age percentiles. When using weight-for-age percentiles, the doctor is not specifically measuring overweight in a child, but simply is comparing a child’s weight to others of the same age. Measuring Weight Status Using BMI-for-Age PercentilesObesity in children (referred to as “overweight” in the weight status category table) is determined by using BMI-for-age percentiles. BMI-for-age percentiles have emerged as the favored method to measure weight status in children. This method calculates your child’s weight category based on age and BMI, which is a calculation of weight and height. However, it should be kept in mind that this method, among other methods, should be used as a tool, and only a physician can best determine and diagnose weight status in your child. To plot a child’s BMI-for-age percentile, you must first calculate his/her BMI. To locate a BMI chart with weights and heights appropriate for children, please click the below link. Once you calculate his/her BMI, find the age of the child on the bottom of the BMI-for-age percentile chart (click on below link for boy or girl) and look to the left or right to locate their BMI. Plot the point on the graph using a pen or pencil. Once you have plotted the measurement, locate the corresponding shaded color on the bottom of the chart to determine your child’s BMI-for-age percentile. You are then able to find your child’s weight status by viewing the Weight Status Category table located to the right of the chart.
Measuring Growth in ChildrenYou may have heard your pediatrician refer to your child’s weight in terms of a percentile. To measure growth in your child based on their weight, doctors most commonly use weight-for-age percentiles. Weight-for-age percentiles are used to measure your child’s weight based strictly on age. It does not take into account the height of a child. This is not a method to determine obesity (or overweight) in children, but simply an indicator of growth as compared to children of the same age. To plot your child’s weight-for-age percentile, find the age of your child on the bottom of the chart and look to the left to locate their body weight. Once you locate their weight and age, plot the point on the graph using a pen or pencil. Once you have plotted the measurement, locate the corresponding shaded color on the bottom of the chart to determine your child’s weight-for-age percentile. Once you have found your child’s weight-for-age percentile, you can then determine what percentile (or percentile range) they fall into, as compared to children of the same age. For example, if your child is in the 95th percentile, this means that their weight is greater than 95 percent of children of the same age.
About Body Mass Index (BMI)BMI is the most common method to measure adult obesity. However, BMI is now becoming a popular tool, which is combined with BMI-for-age percentiles, used to measure obesity in children. BMI is a number calculated by dividing a person’s weight in kilograms by his or her height in meters squared. If your child’s BMI is not listed on this chart, please click here to calculate their BMI. What is the most accurate method for diagnosing obesity?Computerized Tomography (CT) and Magnetic Resonance Imaging (MRI) These two imaging techniques are now considered to be the most accurate methods for measuring tissue, organ, and whole-body fat mass as well as lean muscle mass and bone mass.
What methods are used to measure obesity?For population studies, the World Health Organization defines cut-off values for obesity based on the body mass index (BMI): weight/height squared (kg/m2).
What are the different measures to check of obesity in a children?The most precise way to measure obesity in a child is by using BMI-for-age percentiles. You cannot measure children's weight using solely BMI. You must calculate BMI and then plot it on the BMI-for-age percentile graph to find the child's weight status.
How are overweight and obesity diagnosed?Your doctor will check your body mass index (BMI). A BMI of 30 or higher is considered obesity. Numbers higher than 30 increase health risks even more. Your BMI should be checked at least once a year because it can help determine your overall health risks and what treatments may be appropriate.
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