The Right Weight for Your Child
Among the many concerns of parents is the weight and height of their children because parents often use these as guides for their children’s growth.
How to tell the right weight for your child? One way of finding out is by using the BMI formula which is a simple calculation that tells whether one is underweight, overweight or average. However, BMI calculation can’t be used for smaller children (kids 10 and below). For these kids, the growth charts are used to gauge if your child is within the right weight for his age. BMI, on the other hand, is used for kids 11 and above. The BMI has percentile lines as follows: 5th, 10th, 25th, 50th, 75th, 85th, 90th and 95th percentiles. Those above the 95th percentile are considered overweight and those below the 5th percentile are considered as underweight. The average weight is 50th percentile. It is best to consult with your doctor on how to properly compute the BMI or how to plot your child’s progress in the growth charts.
Although BMI is a good body fat indicator, it does not tell the whole story. For example, one may have a high BMI because of a large frame and lots of muscles, but no excess fat. Another is one may have a regular frame but have lots of fats. It is wise to consult your doctor on this so that you can be guided accordingly. The doctor will have to take a thorough weight and height history of your child over the years in order to see if your child is growing normally or not.
If your doctor finds out that your child is not in the normal range according to his height/weight chart, he will then recommend specific dietary adjustments and exercise. In some cases, a child is underweight due to health problems that need immediate attention. These are feeling tired all the time, getting sick a lot, cough, stomachache, diarrhea or other health problems that have not improved after one or two weeks. it is best to consult your doctor immediately.
In more serious cases, children can be suffering from eating disorders like bulimia and anorexia nervosa. In these situations, consult your doctor so that he can recommend what to do best for your situation. Parents must give their child with these eating disorders comfort, support, love and a whole lot of understanding.