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Start by scheduling a visit to determine your child's accurate height and weight. Your child’s weight will be measured using a set of professional scales that is routinely calibrated or checked for accuracy. This may vary slightly from other scales available to you. Our staff members are also trained in height assessment and measured your child’s height today.
Body Mass Index (BMI) is a common measure expressing the relationship (or ratio) of weight-to-height and is more correlated with body fat than any other indicator of height and weight. It is a mathematical formula that takes a person's body weight in kilograms and divides it by the square of the height in meters.
Body fat changes over the years as children grow. Girls and boys differ in their percent of body fat as they mature. This is why BMI for children, also referred to as BMI-for-age, is gender and age specific and is plotted on gender specific growth charts. These charts are used for children and teens 2 – 20 years of age. BMI decreases during the preschool years, then increases into adulthood.
Weight changes are the direct result of the amount of calories consumed and the amount of calories used by the body. If you eat more calories than you burn you will gain weight. If you burn more calories than you eat, you will lose weight. The problem is easy to understand, but the solutions are complex and involve coordinated efforts by health care workers, parents, teachers and kids.
Since the 1980’s this country has experienced a staggering increase in the number of children who are clinically obese. In 2003, the Centers for Disease Control called obesity the number one health threat in the US. This may be caused by increased calorie consumption combined with more sedentary lifestyles. Supersized portions, fast food restaurants and sedentary pastimes such as video games have all contributed to this trend.
If your child is underweight, overweight, or at risk of being overweight, the first step is a complete physical exam. A complete evaluation will be done and issues concerning weight will be addressed.
Immediate lifestyle intervention needs to be started if your child is not within a normal range of BMI for age. This means that both eating and exercise habits need to change.
Because it is difficult for overweight children and adolescents to lose weight and even more difficult for them to sustain long-term weight loss, the ultimate goal must be prevention of childhood obesity.
DIETARY GUIDELINES
Eat a variety of foods every day. Balance the food you eat with physical activity to maintain or improve weight. Choose a diet with plenty of grain products, vegetables and fruits. Grain products supply energy and provide vitamins, minerals and fiber. Fruits and vegetables provide vitamins and minerals and are naturally low in fat and high in fiber. Lean meats, poultry and fish supply protein, vitamins, and iron. Dried beans and peas, eggs and nuts are also in this food group. Dairy products provide protein, vitamins, minerals and calcium. Choose skim milk and lowfat cheeses and yogurts often. To reduce your risk of heart disease, choose a diet low in fat, saturated fat and cholesterol. Eat sweets sparingly and moderate your salt intake.
You can change your child’s risk of being overweight by immediately starting some healthy lifestyle habits. Ask your health care provider about resources in your community to help you plan and carry out a healthy lifestyle for you and your family.
SOME HEALTH RISKS OF
CHILDHOOD OBESITY
· High blood pressure
· High blood cholesterol
· Type 2 (non-insulin dependent) diabetes
· Insulin resistance, glucose intolerance
· Accelerated pubertal and skeletal development
· Orthopedic disorders
· Depression
· Eating disorders
· Distorted body image
· Low self esteem
Being overweight as a child increases the risk in adulthood of many other medical complications including hypertension, heart disease, stroke, diabetes, gallstones, gout, osteoarthritis, sleep apnea, some types of cancer, complications of pregnancy and poor female reproductive health.
Childhood Obesity Resources
· www.healthycarolinians.org
· www.eatsmartmovemorenc.com
· www.hwrfc.org
· www.nchealthyweight.com
· www.getkidsinaction.com
· www.ncpreventionpartners.org
· www.nchealthyschools.org
The information contained on this web site should not be used as a substitute for the medical care and advice of your health care provider. There may be variations in treatment that your provider may recommend based on individual facts and circumstances.
AIM FOR A HEALTHY WEIGHT
· Talk with your health care provider about your ideal weight to improve your long-term health.
· Many children can maintain their weight but decrease their BMI as they grow taller rather than losing weight.
· If weight loss is needed, do so gradually 1/2 to 2 pounds per week.
BE ACTIVE
· Keep physically active to balance the calories you eat.
· Be physically active for at least 30 minutes (adults) or 60 minutes (children) on most days of the week.
· Limit TV, video game, and computer time to less than 2 hours per day.
EAT WELL
· Select sensible and appropriate for age portion sizes for food and beverages
· Prepare and eat more meals at home
· Drink at least 8 glasses of water per day and limit sweetened beverages.
· Most people need to increase their servings of whole grain, fruit, and vegetables.
· Include snacks daily and choose healthy ones such as fresh fruit, yogurt, nuts or raw vegetables.
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