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Childhood obesity is a serious medical condition that affects children and adolescents. Children who are obese are above the normal weight for their age and height.¹

The body mass index (BMI), which provides a guideline of weight in relation to height, is the accepted measure of overweight and obesity. The best person to determine whether or not your child is overweight is your child's doctor. In determining whether or not your child is overweight, the doctor will measure your child's weight and height and compute their ''BMI,'' or body mass index, to compare this value to standard values. The doctor will also consider your child's age and growth patterns and the doctor can use growth charts and, if necessary, other tests to help you figure out if your child's weight could pose health problems.²

On a standard BMI chart, kids ages 2 to 19 fall into one of four categories:

1. UnderweightBMI below the 5^th percentile
2. Normal weightBMI at the 5^th and less than the 85^th percentile
3. OverweightBMI at the 85^th and below 95^th percentiles
4. ObeseBMI at or above 95^th percentile³

If you're worried that your child is putting on too much weight, talk to his or her doctor. The doctor will consider your child's history of growth and development, your family's weight-for-height history, and where your child lands on the growth charts. This can help determine if your child's weight is in an unhealthy range.²

Dr. Mohamad Bahjat

Pediatrician

¹https://www.cdc.gov/obesity/childhood/causes.html

²https://www.webmd.com/children/guide/obesity-children#

³https://kidshealth.org/en/parents/overweight-obesity.html