| Did you know BMI Calculators are different between | | | | the 85th percentile. You can determine the weights |
| adults and children? It turns out you need more than | | | | from a chart, iteratively using a Child/Teen BMI |
| just the BMI (Body Mass Index) to screen your child | | | | Calculator, or using a BMI calculator that automatically |
| for weight related health risks. You also need to | | | | calculates the healthy range weights for you. |
| determine their percentile. | | | | When is this method of screening a child for weight |
| So what is BMI? | | | | related problems inaccurate? |
| BMI is an indication of the percentage of a person's | | | | 1) This method is not valid for children < 2 or 20 |
| body fat. BMI is just your weight in kilograms divided | | | | years old or greater; 2) This method and BMI |
| by the square of your height in meters. So if your | | | | specifically is not accurate if the child is very athletic |
| child is 3 foot 10 inches (46 total inches or 1.168 | | | | or muscular; 3) This method and BMI specifically is |
| meters, tall and they weigh 65 pounds ( 29.5 kg) | | | | not accurate if the child is taller than 7 feet. |
| then their BMI is 29.5 / (1.168 x 1.168) = 21.6. If you | | | | Why is childhood overweight considered a health |
| want to use English units instead just take their | | | | problem? |
| weight in pounds multiply by 703 and then divide by | | | | Studies have established that overweight children and |
| the square of their height in inches. So if they are 46 | | | | teens are more likely to become obese as adults. |
| total inches tall and weight 65 pounds then you would | | | | Being overweight doubles your risk of getting heart |
| take 65 x 703 / (46 x 46) = 21.6 | | | | disease, the number one cause of death. Being |
| What is percentile? How is it determined? | | | | overweight also doubles your chance of getting Type |
| Where adults can use the BMI directly to determine | | | | 2 Diabetes, Asthma, Sleep Apnea, and center types |
| their weight category and health risk it is more | | | | of cancers. Being overweight as a kid causes social |
| complicated for children and teens. Since body fat | | | | discrimination which can lead to low self esteem as |
| changes so quickly in children and between boys and | | | | well as depression. |
| girls you must determine your child's percentile. So | | | | What causes obesity and overweight? |
| Child-Teen BMI calculators ask for your child's gender | | | | Scientifically speaking eating more calories than your |
| and age so they can compare your Child's BMI with | | | | body's muscles use results in the excess calories |
| thousands of other kids with the same age and sex. | | | | being stored as fat in your body. The number of |
| Where your child ranks is their percentile. So if your | | | | people overweight and the number of obese people |
| child's BMI is 60 then for their age and gender their | | | | are rising. According to the World Health Organization |
| BMI is greater than 59% of their peers and less than | | | | (WHO) the reasons for this mainly fall into two |
| 39%. You can either use a chart to determine the | | | | categories. |
| percentile or some calculators will use the data | | | | 1) Global shift in diet towards increased intake of |
| gathered from tens of thousands of kids to calculate | | | | energy dense foods that are high in fat and sugars |
| your child's percentile based on their BMI, their age, | | | | but low in vitamins, minerals, and micro nutrients. |
| and their gender. | | | | {Comment: We cannot blame the manufacturers of |
| How is BMI and Percentile interpreted for children and | | | | processed foods who have had to remove the |
| teens? | | | | vitamins, minerals, and micro nutrients in order to |
| For children and teens their BMI cannot be used | | | | make their products last longer and they have |
| directly. After their BMI is determined then it is | | | | increased the density of fats and sugars so will like |
| compared with other kids their age and sex to | | | | the taste and buy their product.} |
| determine their percentile. The percentile is then used | | | | 2) Trends towards decreased physical activity due to |
| to determine your child's weight category.Less than | | | | the increasingly sedentary nature of many forms of |
| the 5th percentile is considered underweight.5th to | | | | work, changing modes of transportation, and |
| the 85th percentile is considered a healthy range.85th | | | | increasing urbanization. {Comment: It's obvious that |
| to 95th percentile is considered at risk for being | | | | having machines do the work while we sit at a desk, |
| overweight.95th percentile or above is considered | | | | having cars transport us almost to the door at work, |
| overweight. | | | | store, restaurant, or home reduces walking, and living |
| What is a healthy weight range for my child? | | | | in cities or suburbs reduces almost all needs for any |
| The healthy weight range for your child is the weight | | | | physical activities. No wonder we are getting fatter. |
| range that would put them in the 5th to less than | | | | |