Warning Signs: How to Know if Your Child is at Risk of Becoming ObeseThere are a number of ways to determine if your child is at risk for being overweight or obese. Some are very scientific methods, others can be easily observed Let's start with the some of the tools that are available. Every pediatrician's office has a height and weight chart, which provides a guideline for where children rank in comparison to the average height and weight. Remember this is just a guide, but it is a good indicator. Another tool is the body mass index, or BMI. For some, this is a new term. BMI is the measurement of choice for many physicians and researchers studying obesity. It uses a mathematical formula, which takes into account both a person's height and weight. BMI equals a person's weight in kilograms divided by height in meters squared; (BMI=kg/m2). To find out more about this you can visit the Partnership for Healthy Weight Management Web site. While these tools are useful, there are some other things to consider that are just as important at which put your child at risk. Ask yourself these questions. How many minutes a day is your child involved in activity? At a minimum, children need one hour of physical activity. Any less and a child can begin to pack on the pounds. How many minutes a day does your child use technology products? This includes video games, ipods, television or computers. As a guide, it should be no more than one hour a day. Any more and your child is on the way to becoming a couch potato. Look at your child objectively. If you can see definition of the clavicle bone and some muscle definition, that's good. If you cannot, your child may be carrying excess fat. Is your child winded when climbing stairs? If so, that is not a good sign. Does your child avoid physical activity? Is he or she embarrassed to participate? If so they may lack the necessary skills that will help them get and remain physically active. How much fast food or fried food is your child eating? Along those same lines, how much whole, fresh food does your child eat compared with processed food? Use these questions and other tools to determine more about your child's physical condition. And remember, the time to address the issue of being overweight or obesity is sooner rather than later.
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