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