What is your child's BMI?
What's a BMI, you ask?
BMI stands for "Body Mass Index". The growth charts that were issued
in 2000 have been expanded to include the parameter for BMI for
children from the ages of 2 to 18. Next time you take you child/children
for an annual checkup, ask the Pediatrician to figure the BMI.
So, What will the BMI tell you?
The BMI is a mathmatical formula that relates the height and weight of
your child. The number that comes from the Pediatrician's BMI formula,
tells you whether you child is at a healthy weight for his/her age.
Children with a BMI between the 85th and 95th percentile are
considered to be 'at risk' for being overweight. Children with a BMI that
falls at or above the 95th percentile are considered overweight and well
on their way to being obese for their age.
So, what is the big deal if my child weighs more than he/she should?
Complications from being overweight and obese are numerous.
Children are experiencing health problems that, generations before, did
not experience until they were adults, older adults. These complications
include: Sleep apnea, asthma, gall stones, hip problems, flat feet,
arthritis, hypertension, coronary artery disease, and Type II diabetes.
What is causing this increase in the number of overweight and obese
children?
Our lifestyles has caused this change. Children today have a greater
intake of calories, greater intake of carbohydrates, greater intake of
saturated fats, larger portions at mealtime, excess lack of physical
activity, too much TV time, too much computer time.
What can I do about my overweight child, or to keep my child from
becoming overweight?
1. Educate yourself on what foods you and your children should be
eating to get a well balanced diet.
2. Limit the portion size that you and your children eat at every meal.
3. Encourage your children to eat healthy snacks: fruit, vegetables, low
fat yogurt, cheese, etc.
4. Increase the physical activity in your household. Park farther away
from the stores, so you have to walk, get your children to go on a bike
ride with you.
5. Limit the number of times that fast food is eaten during the week.
6. Keep tabs on your child's/children's BMI. Have your pediatrician
calculate the BMI for your child each time he/she has a regular check up.
7. Be a good role model. Give your children a good example to follow.
The schools are striving to take a big part in educating your children on
healthy habits. The state has mandated that all Elementary and Intermediate
age children must get 135 minutes of Physical Activity per week, whether this
be in Gym classes and/or at recess. They are taking an active part in
structuring the meals at lunch so that they are appealing to the eye, and
include healthy choices. Whatever the schools do to help keep your children
healthy, these things must be continued or expanded at home. It is not easy
to make the changes necessary to be healthy. But it is worth it, not only for
your children, but for the adults, too.
If you would like a peek at the new growth and BMI charts, and
instructions on how to use them, this web site may be helpful.
www.cdc.gov/growthcharts
Let's make our children happy and healthy!