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General Health
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 Parents often wonder if their child is growing properly and how to tell if he or she is overweight. While we might chuckle over a toddler’s chubby thighs or wrists, at some point it is important to determine what a child’s healthy weight should be for their age. Obesity is a very real epidemic and it has left no age group untouched.
A pediatric Body Mass Index (BMI) tool can be used to assess children ages 3 and up. This tool compares your child's weight and height against other boys or girls of the same age. Your child's size will be given two numbers—a BMI value and its percentile. The percentile is the number that ranks your child's size among other children of the same gender and age.
Not all children are the same. Some are naturally larger and some are naturally smaller. What's most important is that your child remains near the same percentile over time. You should talk with your doctor if your child suddenly shifts up or down in percentile. A gradual change from one percentile to another is generally not a cause for concern.
If your child is at the very low end of the percentile scale (for example, the 3rd percentile), you may be concerned that your child is too small. If this is the case, talk to your doctor. It may be that your child has always been small and that this is the normal growth pattern for him or her. Your doctor can check your child to make sure that he or she is growing normally.
“Encourage this child to eat more because a lack of growth can cause problems,” says Dr. Andrea Houfek, medical director of pediatrics at Cigna Medical Group. “Children who eat well but still grow poorly or are underweight may have underlying health problems.”
If your child is on the upper end of the percentile scale (for example, the 95th percentile), you may be concerned that your child is too big. If this is the case, talk to your doctor. It may be that your child has always been large and that this is the normal growth pattern for him or her.
“Sometimes weight gain can precede a gain in height,” Houfek says. “This is usually not a problem and height will catch up to weight. However, if a child is overeating and doesn't get much exercise, then we are concerned that those bad habits will lead to severe, life-long health problems such as diabetes.”
Take-home Tips:
- Make sure children receive enough rest -- 10-12 hours of sleep per night
- Ensure a balanced diet full of essential vitamins and minerals
- Make sure kids are enjoying an activity that gives them exercise -- in-line skating, bicycling, swimming, dance, or sports
- Avoid comparing growth rates and weight between siblings
For more information, visit www.CignaMedicalGroup.com |
