Youth Obesity Article

Could Your Child Be At A High-Risk For Becoming Obese?

If you are worried that your child may be on the fast track to becoming obese, you are not the only parent that feels this way. You may not realize it until your child can no longer fit into their clothes, but if your child does not have good eating habits and does not get enough exercise; you could very well have a legitimate concern. It is your responsibility as a parent to make sure your child is healthy, and weight problems could cause many disorders, that very well could affect your child’s health and quality of life.

When you take your child to the pediatrician for a well checkup, you probably receive a copy of your child’s growth chart. Your child’s height and weight are measured, and then compared to other children of the same age, and the resulting percentage can be used as a general guideline for determining growth problems, as well as weight problems, such as obesity. On these growth charts, if your child routinely places in the 85th percentile or higher, then he or she may already be technically classified as being obese, and you should talk with the pediatrician about this problem. You should also take steps at home to get your child involved in physical activities, and eat healthier foods. At this point, your can probably turn things around and help your child lose weight before any significant health problems occur.

On the other hand, if your child routinely places in the ninety-fifth percentile or higher, then he or she may already be having weight related health problems, and you may need help getting your child’s weight under control. It will not be easy for either of you, but it has to be done, to keep your child’s health from being further compromised.

Keep in mind, when we are talking about growth charts and obesity, there are many different charts out there, and there are different charts used for boys and girls. So, first of all, make certain that you are using or looking at the correct chart. Your child’s age also plays a factor, and many charts do vary depending upon age as well.

You can calculate your child’s BMI and risk on your own, but it is better to ask your pediatrician to do this for you, just to make certain that you are getting an accurate assessment. Your child’s BMI will vary at different times during his or her life, and your pediatrician can tell when growth spurts and hormonal changes are occurring, so that he can factor those into your child’s assessment.

Your pediatrician will also do diagnostic health assessments to determine your child’s health risk as well. Therefore, if you believe your child is at risk for becoming obese and the associated health risks, your best bet is to talk to your pediatrician about your concerns.