Healthy Weight
Many parents worry about the weight of their child. It is not always easy to tell just by looking at your child if they are a healthy weight. If you are worried your child may be overweight, then read on.
The food and drink that we eat and drink (energy intake) and the physical activity we do (energy used) is measured in kilojoules (kJ). kilojoules is an alternative measure to calories. 1 Calorie = 4.2 kJ.
When children eat and drink more kilojoules than they use doing physical activity in their day, the extra kilojoules get converted to fat in the body. Over time, this results in unhealthy increase in body (fat) weight. While children will naturally gain weight and height as they grow, putting on too much weight too quickly can lead to serious health problems and can influence overall growth and development.
Not sure if your child is overweight or at risk of becoming overweight?
Children grow at different rates and sometimes it is impossible to tell if a child is a healthy weight by just looking at them! If you are worried your child is overweight, it is a good idea to talk with your child's General Practitioner, School Health Nurse or you could consult with a dietitian. These health professionals can all provide weight assessments for children.
Parents often don't realise that their child is overweight. Below are a few signs that can help you decide if you should take your child for a weight assessment.
A child may experience some or all of the below if they are overweight or at risk of becoming overweight. This is only a guide, contact a General Practitioner or Dietitian for a diagnosis and to rule out any medical conditions that may cause a child to become overweight.
- Wears clothes that are two sizes too big for his/her age
- Has rolls/skin folds around waist
- Snores when he sleeps
- Mentions getting teased about weight
- Gets very "puffed/red in the face" after running for 10 minutes continuously
- Does not participate in games at school or does not want to go out with other children
- Eats adult size food portions of high fat or high sugar foods
Is always hungry or asking for high fat or high sugar foods - although their appetite may change when they are experiencing growth spurts - Does not eat a high fibre breakfast regularly
- Skips meals regularly
- Eats more than 2 serves of ‘extra' foods each day such as sugary drinks, cakes, muffins, pies, biscuits, high sugar muesli bars etc.
- Drinks sugary cordial or soft drink more than three times a week
- Eats high fat foods such as pies, pasties, sausage rolls, chips, hot chips more than 3 times a week
- Eats high sugar foods such as muffins, cakes, biscuits most days (or more than 3 days a week)
- Has take-away or fast-food meals more than once a week
- Watches television/video games for more than 2 hours each day
Growth and weight charts
The best way to find out if your child is a healthy weight is to work out their Body Mass Index (BMI). BMI takes into account how much they weigh and how tall they are, and then gives a healthy weight range to aim for based on childhood growth charts. These charts are different for boys and girls, and also take into account age. BMI for kids is different to BMI for adults. But it is important to remember that finding out your child's BMI is only a guideline. Regardless of the result of your child's age/height/weight plot, a health professional is best placed to formally assess your child's weight and lifestyle and to guide your family through healthy lifestyle changes.
An online tool for assessing children and adolesnts' weight can be found here. You will need to know their gender, age in years and months, height in centimetres (cm) and weight in kilograms (kg).
What can parents do to help?
- It is important not to put a child on a diet or an exercise plan without first consulting with a health professional for advice on lifestyle changes and body image discussions.
- Be a good role model; eat healthy foods and be physically active with your children.
- Contact the your local School Health Nurse, Child Health Nurse, Dietitian, or General Practitioner for a formal weight assessment or more information on your child's health.