Overweight and Obese Children
Are Your Kids Overweight?
The rising cost of college tuition isn't the only increase parents need to worry about. The soaring weight of children is another. In the last three decades, the number of obese children in the United States has more than tripled. According to the American Obesity Association, about 15 percent are now obese, and 30 percent are overweight. This is not a cosmetic problem according to Stephanie H. Abrams, MD, an expert in childhood obesity at the Baylor College of Medicine in Houston, "This is a disease and it's an epidemic." Excess weight is responsible for a range of psychological and physical ailments. "It's literally killing our children," says Abrams. Kids can't reverse this worrisome trend by themselves; parents must be aware of risk factors and help steer their children towards good health.
How will you know if your child is overweight?
Regular pediatric appointments are essential. The doctor can tell you if your child's rate of gain is too fast, and can determine the rank of his or her weight relative to other children of the same age and sex by finding your child's Body Mass Index (BMI). BMI is a number calculated with a specific formula using child's weight and height. The BMI figure is then plotted on the CDC's BMI for age growth charts for either boys or girls. Placement of the figure will tell you what percentile your child's weight falls into. Unlike adults, there is no strict raw number of BMI that makes a child overweight or obese. The definition is completely based on the percentile for age and sex.
You can determine whether your child's weight is healthy on your own with the CDC's Child and Teen BMI Calculator. This tool will also plot your child's BMI on the corresponding graph. If the number lies in the 85 to 94.9 percentile, he or she is considered overweight. If the number is equal to or greater than the 95th percentile, he or she is considered obese.
What are the signs that your child could be headed for a weight problem?
One signal is a lack of exercise. It used to be that kids came home from school and played outside until their parents called them in for dinner. "The parenting standards in our society have changed. Because of safety issues, parents now have to observe their children constantly. It's not doable, so they have to keep kids entertained in the house." The result? Little to no physical activity and hours in front of the television, computer or video games -- with snacks. If your son or daughter is not engaged in some kind of physical activity for at least an hour a day, whether it's organized sports or simply dancing to music or kicking a ball around, this is a red flag.
Next: Signs of Weight Problems and Effects of Childhood Obesity
