In the past, a chubby baby or child was a sign of good health, and being too thin was a cause for concern. Grandparents loved to see their little grandchildren chubby, with plenty of rolls. However, nowadays, this excess cuteness has become a very serious concern for parents and doctors.
What is Child BMI
That’s why child BMI is so important for monitoring diseases and dangers that childhood obesity1 brings. The calculation of Child BMI was created to assess the ideal weight of the child and adolescent based on weight and height. It provides an accurate result about body mass and whether the child is at their ideal weight. This calculation is carried out annually during pediatrician visits, but there are charts available that we can check at home to get an idea of our children’s situation.
This child BMI chart2 applies to the weight and height of children between 2 and 20 years of age and can detect malnutrition or obesity. There are cases in which the Child BMI is high, but it is not obesity; rather, it is due to very high muscle mass. That’s why interpretation should be done by a specialist who will correctly provide the results.
How to Calculate Child BMI
To calculate Child BMI, you should divide the child’s weight in kg by the height squared; the result will be the BMI value that must be checked on the growth chart. Sounds complicated? Let’s make it clearer.
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Harms Caused by Childhood Obesity
Childhood obesity is currently considered the main disorder of childhood, and although malnutrition is still a very sad and worrying reality in Brazil, obesity has been increasing alarmingly year after year.
Childhood obesity is not just an aesthetic issue or something to be feared due to teasing and nicknames at school age. The concern is for health, which can be greatly affected if not treated with care and the attention it deserves.
Disorders and Traumas
Usually, obese children become obese adolescents and adults, full of traumas, fears, and the need to be more concerned about their health. This is because over their lifetime, they will certainly develop problems that could have been avoided from early childhood. Childhood obesity can cause:
Main Problems Caused by Childhood Obesity
- Sleep disturbances
- High blood pressure and high cholesterol
- Low self-esteem
- Problems with depression
- Increased risk of developing diabetes over a lifetime
- In the case of girls, it can lead to early maturation and irregular menstrual cycles.
And many other problems may develop due to childhood obesity, such as bulimia, anorexia nervosa, and various other disorders. There may also be a decline in school performance and the isolation of these children from social groups and other peers3.
We mothers cannot see our children as obese; we see them as strong kids. Of course, we notice differences from other children, but accepting that they are dealing with this problem is another issue, and we end up getting upset with other people’s comments. But it’s in this way that we understand something is wrong.
What to Do
It is advised to seek out a trusted pediatrician so the BMI calculation can be done to check the degree of obesity, and if necessary, run a full panel of tests to check cholesterol, blood glucose, and anything else that’s important and start a strict diet for the child’s weight loss and control. It won’t be easy to say no to a child who has always eaten whatever they wanted.
This is a very difficult situation, but it is for their future well-being. The doctor will refer the child to a nutritionist, who is the professional responsible for this area, and they will prescribe a balanced diet recommended for the child’s age group, far from fried foods, sodas, sweets, and excessive carbohydrates.
