As a parent, you probably have heard the terms overweight and obesity used interchangeably implying that they mean the same thing. It doesn’t. They describe two very distinct weight categories. Therefore, understanding the terms and its associated implications will be important as a parent who is supporting their child’s health and helps you in acting proactively and early.
Let’s start with what it means: How does the medical community, especially doctors, define these weight categories? The health industry generally uses the measure BMI (Body Mass Index) to define if a child is overweight or obese or severely obese. It’s also used to define if a child has a normal weight or is underweight. BMI considers a child’s gender, age, height and weight and compares it to the average BMI for other children in the same age and gender and expresses the results as a percentile, instead of a single number. As a parent, the thing to remember is that your child is growing during this stage of their life, so it’s never a static number but one that changes as they grow older and taller. So constantly checking for BMI will give you a sense of where your child stands. You can use our easy-to-use BMI calculator to track and monitor your child’s current state and take the appropriate action. All you need is their current height and weight.
According to the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention for children aged 2 to 19 years, their weight can be categorized as follows –
| BMI Percentile (Ages 2–19) | Weight Category |
| < 5th | Underweight |
| 5th – < 85th | Healthy Weight |
| 85th – < 95th | Overweight |
| ≥ 95th | Obese |
| 120% of the 95th percentile or greater | Severely Obese |
The key points to note then are that a child who is overweight falls between the 85th and 95th percentile and a child who is obese is equal or higher than 95% percentile of BMI for children of the same gender and height. Severely obese is 120% of the 95th percentile or greater.
BMI does not tell the full story about your child’s health, so checking in with their pediatrician is critical to making well-informed decisions. BMI cannot differentiate muscle weight from fat weight or the distribution of fat on your child. Your pediatrician may take into consideration other factors like your child’s waist to height measures, blood test results and their lifestyle, before advising on your child’s health.
Next, let’s assess why it matters: Simply put further up the body mass index chart your child is the higher their risk for long term and serious psychological and medical issues they will face. This is not a scare-tactic! It’s a repeatedly proven fact with volumes of evidence-backed studies to corroborate this statement. I know as a parent, you’re already aware of the risks associated with an unhealthy weight gain during childhood.
Mental issues like low self-esteem, depression, anxiety, academic struggles and eating disorders that start in childhood can carry through adulthood without appropriate intervention. The quality of your child’s childhood is also impacted by bullying and social isolation. They are unable to learn critical social skills like interacting with their peer groups, effective communications, empathy, cooperation, conflict resolution, manners, respect for diversity, self-control, assertiveness, social listening, and respecting boundaries which are crucial for navigating social situations in both childhood and adulthood.
The medical impact is wide with chronic illnesses like Type 2 diabetes, hypertension, high cholesterol, sleep apnea and fatty liver, to name a few conditions that are likely to occur. Some of these conditions have a higher likelihood of occurring the longer your child has been overweight or obese, so pediatricians recommend taking action to help your child now rather than waiting until they get older
Finally, this situation usually creates a huge strain on family dynamics. The stress of managing your child’s weight can take a significant toll on the parents emotionally, even when there are strong family relationships. Dealing with your child’s obesity could include conflicts on the type and quantity of food your child consumes, the level of physical activity and handling the emotional distress of your child.
So, what can you do as Parent? First breathe! Know your numbers – calculate your child’s BMI and then consult with your child’s pediatrician to understand your child’s weight. Then start slowly and observe. Assess what your child eats, when they eat, how much they eat, what their level of physical activity is, their moods when they’re eating and so on. Then take baby steps. Based on the age of your child you can choose to discuss your plan with them and make it shared goals for the family. Let’s add a new vegetable or fruit to the meal this week. Replace one soda with water next week. As a family walk to the grocery store and stroll through all the aisles looking for interesting and new snacks to add to the family meals… There should be no pressure on you or the child. Don’t deny any food. No shame for falling off the plan. Just acknowledge and agree to do better… Slow and steady will win this race to get back to health for you and your child!
Because every child deserves a healthy, confident future—and their journey starts with informed and patient parents.
