Childhood obesity in America is at an all-time high right now. According to the National Center for Health Statistics, when comparing data over the 30 year span covering 1974 to 2004,
- obesity in the 2 to 5 age group has risen from 5% to 13.9 %,
- the 6 to 11 age group from 4% to 18.8%
- and in the 12 to 19 age group from 4.6 to 17.4%.
The chart below identifies that majority of the increase has occurred in the last 10 years alone. Each age group has at least tripled its rate within the 30 year time span. These statistics are quite alarming and deserve a closer look.
Overweight Child Defined
What exactly does overweight mean? Overweight, as used in the chart and statistics above, is based on a measurement comparing the weight and height of a person, or the body mass index (BMI). This comparison leads to an assumption about what a healthy weight would be for a person of a particular age and height. When calculating the BMI for children, age and sex are taken into account while for adult calculations they are not. The CDC has developed a BMI calculator for determining the percentile of a child’s BMI. It can also be calculated using the standard formulas. A child who is in the:
- less than 5th percentile is considered underweight,
- 5th to 85th percentile is considered healthy weight,
- 85th to less than 95th percentile is overweight,
- and 95th and above is considered to be obese.
In some circles the body mass index method has been criticized due to the fact that there are multiple variations in children that are not taken into account, for example, body fat weighs less than muscle so a particularly muscular child could be classified in a higher percentile while still maintaining a healthy lifestyle.
Early Detection
Children and teens should be checked regularly to make sure that their BMI is in the healthy range. Regular visits to pediatricians will allow doctors to keep a growth chart, alerting doctors and parents to any significant variations in size or weight. Parents who notice children putting on weight in unhealthy amounts can take preventative measures. Parents who discover that their child is already in the overweight and/or obese categories have several types of treatment options available. Children, valued and loved, hold the keys to the future of the nation and the world, and therefore should be given every possible advantage!
References
1. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention; Prevalenceof Overweight Among Children and Adolescents: United States, 2003-2004;April 2006; at http://www.cdc.gov/nchs/products/pubs/pubd/hestats/overweight/overwght_child_03.htm#Table%201; accessed September 11, 2009 .
2.Centers for Disease Control and Prevention; Healthy Weight – It’s not a diet, it’s a lifestyle; http://www.cdc.gov/healthyweight/assessing/bmi/childrens_bmi about_childrens_bmi.html#How%20is%20BMI%20calculated; accessed September 11, 2009;
 |
