What IS CHILD OBESITY?
Obesity (a disease of excessive body fat) in children or adolescents is not measured in the same way as adult obesity. In adults, the Body Mass Index (BMI) is the standard diagnostic tool for measuring mild obesity (BMI 30+), morbid obesity (BMI 40+), and malignant obesity (BMI 50+). However, in order to measure obesity in children or teenagers, a measurement called “percentile of Body Mass Index” is used.
What is Child Overweight?Overweight in children or adolescents is not assessed in the same way as adult weight. For adult men and women, the standard clinical tool for identifying overweight and obesity is the Body Mass Index (BMI), a height-to-weight scale, which is relatively easy to use but slightly imprecise as it takes no specific account of fat percentage, and applies equally to both genders. However, in order to measure overweight in children or teenagers, a measurement called “percentile of Body Mass Index” is used.
PERCENTILES OF BODY MASS INDEX USED TO
ASSESS CHILD WEIGHT
The weight of children and adolescents (aged 12-19) is measured with reference to gender-specific growth charts developed by the Centers for Disease Control (CDC). A BMI-for-age is plotted on these charts and shows a child’s BMI in relation to that of other children.
Each of the BMI-for-age charts contains wavy lines indicating specific percentiles. If a child’s weight falls between (eg) the 50th and 75th percentile, it means that his/her weight falls into the category occupied by 50-75 percent of other children of the same gender and age.
WHEN IS A CHILD OR TEENAGER OVERWEIGHT?
The weight of children and adolescents (aged 12-19) is measured with reference to gender-specific growth charts developed by the Centers for Disease Control (CDC). A BMI-for-age is plotted on these charts and shows a child’s BMI in relation to that of other children.
Each of the BMI-for-age charts contains wavy lines indicating specific percentiles. If a child’s weight falls between (eg) the 50th and 75th percentile, it means that his/her weight falls into the category occupied by 50-75 percent of other children of the same gender and age.
WHEN IS A CHILD OR TEENAGER UNDERWEIGHT?
A child or adolescent is classified as underweight when his/her weight falls below the 5th percentile.
CHILD WEIGHT STATUS DETERMINED BY INDIVIDUAL EXAMINATION
Even if a child’s weight falls between the 5th and 85th percentiles, this does not necessarily mean that he/she has a healthy weight. The charts are used as markers, and results may indicate a need for children and teens to have an individual medical assessment. Your child’s weight status can only be properly assessed by your doctor on the basis of individual examinations conducted over time. This method is required to allow for growth spurts which may otherwise skew your child’s BMI-for-age.
Causes of Childhood Obesity
Obesity in children and teens (meaning a BMI-for-age above the 95th percentile) can occur as a result of different combinations of reasons, including environmental and genetic factors. However, it’s important to realize that weight gain, whether leading to mild or severe clinical obesity, typically occurs only when a person consumes more calories than he/she expends. A large calorie surplus is typically needed to cause obesity.
OBESITY STATISTICS – OBESITY
International Child Obesity
Obesity has reached such epidemic proportions that world health officials have decided they need to take a more aggressive approach if they are to head off a global explosion of fat-related diseases. After years of focusing on promoting healthy eating to dampen demand for junk food, the World Health Organization is now examining what can be done on the supply side – enlisting the cooperation of food producers.
In the last two years, experts have confirmed that obesity, diabetes and heart disease – commonly thought to be afflictions of the affluent – are spreading to the developing world, but new research provides the clearest picture yet of the global situation.
The picture looks all too familiar, even in regions suffering from malnutrition. Figures from Africa, the Middle East, Latin America and the Caribbean were included.
Obesity in Children and Adolescents
Child obesity (meaning a BMI-for-age above the 95th percentile of the CDC growth charts for age and gender) is typically diagnosed in individual children when total body weight exceeds 25 percent fat in boys, or 32 percent fat in girls (Lohman, 1987). Statistics regarding the number of obese children are often merged into those for overweight.