Growing Into My Weight
All children grow and develop at different rates. Because children need nutrients to grow, develop and learn, it is usually not recommended that a child go on a weight loss diet. However, it may be appropriate at times to slow weight gain and allow the child to “grow into his/her weight”.
What is BMI?
BMI stands for Body Mass Index and it is a ratio of body weight to height. BMI is used differently with children than it is with adults. BMI is used to assess underweight, overweight, and risk for overweight in children and teens.
| Underweight | BMI-for-age < 5th percentile | |
| At risk for overweight | BMI-for-age 85th percentile to < 95th percentile | |
| Overweight | BMI-for-age > 95th percentile |
What does it mean if my child is in the 70th percentile?
The 70th percentile means that 70% of children of the same gender and age have a lower BMI than your child.
[Reference: www.cdc.gov/nccdphp/dnpa/bmi/bmi-for-age.htm]
How can I help my child develop and keep healthy eating habits?
- Be supportive - The most important thing one can do for a child is love, support and encourage him. Fostering self-esteem and positive self-concept is the best gift a person can give a child. A person's level of self-esteem is usually reflected in how he cares for himself.
- Encourage healthy eating and physical activity habits
- Buy and serve more fresh fruits and vegetables.
- Serve sodas, and other high fat/high Calorie snack foods occasionally, not daily.
- Remember that fruit juice and milk are also high Calorie beverages.
- Encourage WATER as most important beverage.
- Eat the whole fruit rather than drink fruit juice. The whole fruit has more vitamins and minerals and fiber.
- Eat breakfast everyday.
- Take advantage of healthier menu items in restaurants.
- Promote eating when hungry and stopping when satisfied.
- Encourage at least 60 minutes a day of physical activity.
Be a positive role model. Research shows that the number one predictor of a child’s activity level is the activity level of the parent.