Obesity

Childhood obesity has reached an all time high, and overweight children are at high risk for other medical conditions in adulthood. If your family is struggling with this issue, don't be discouraged! Click on the links below for more information and ideas on how to get started making healthy lifestyle changes that will put you on the right track!


Changes to Childhood Obesity

"The term obesity denotes excess body fat more accurately and reflects the associated serious health risks more clearly than does the term overweight, which is not recognized \ as a clinical term for high adiposity.

Overweight denotes high weight from lean body mass as well as from high body fat levels….These terms provide continuity with adult definitions and avoid the vagueness of 'at risk of overweight,' which has been confusing to patients and health care providers."

(Excerpt from the Expert Committee Recommendations Regarding the Prevention, Assessment, and Treatment of Child and Adolescent Overweight and Obesity: Summary Report.)

Changes to the definitions:

For children ages 2 years old and older (Percentiles based upon standard growth curves):

Underweight: BMI < 5%

Healthy Weight: 5% > BMI < 84%

Overweight: 85% < BMI < 94%

Obesity: BMI > 95% or BMI > 30 kg/m2

***Extreme/ Severe obesity:
      BMI > 99% or BMI 30 – 32 kg/m2 10 to 12 years old
      BMI > 99% or BMI > 34 kg/m2 14 to 16 years old

***This is a new proposed weight category. It is not official. However, there is a marked increase in risk for multiple cardiovascular diseasse at this weight range.

Children under 2 years old: BMI > 95% is overweight. Families should discuss what measures if any should be taken with their child's health care provider


Click here to download this updated definition with a personal check list of things you can do