OVERWEIGHT CHILD - WatsonsHealth

OVERWEIGHT CHILD

An overweight child may later have childhood obesity, which is a serious medical condition that affects kids and teenagers. Kids who are overweight are over the normal weight for their age and height.

Childhood obesity is especially disturbing because the additional pounds can bring about medical issues to kids later when they are adults, such as diabetes, hypertension and elevated cholesterol. Many overweight children end up fat as adults, particularly if one or the two parents are also overweight. Childhood obesity can likewise prompt poor confidence and depression.

One of the best ways to diminish overweight in a child is to improve diet and exercise habits for your whole family. Treating and anticipating childhood obesity secures your child’s well being now and later on.

Not all kids having additional pounds are overweight or obese. A few kids have bigger than normal body frames. Also, kids regularly convey diverse amounts of fat at different phases of development. So, you probably won’t know just by taking a look at your kid if weight is a health concern.

The body mass index (BMI), which gives a rule of weight in connection to height, is the accepted measure of overweight and obesity. Your doctor will know whether your kid’s weight could present medical issues by using different growth charts, the BMI and different tests.

DIAGNOSIS

As an aspect of healthy child care, the doctor ascertains your child’s BMI and figures out where it falls on the BMI-for-age growth chart. The BMI demonstrates if your kid is overweight for his or her age and height.

Utilizing the growth chart, your doctor decides your kid’s percentile, which means how your kid compares to other kids of a similar sex and age. For instance, if your child is in the 80th percentile, it implies that when compared with other kids of a similar sex and age, 80 percent have a lower weight or BMI.

Here are the cutoff points that help distinguish children who are overweight and obese:

  • BMI in the range of 85th and 94th percentiles — overweight
  • BMI 95th percentile or above — obesity

Since BMI doesn’t consider muscularity or having a bigger than normal body frame and because growth patters shift greatly among kids, your doctor likewise factors in your kid’s development and growth. This decides if your kid’s weight is a health concern.

Other information that is also useful include the following:

  • Your family history of obesity and weight-related health problems, such as diabetes
  • Your child’s eating habits
  • Your child’s activity level
  • Other health conditions your child may have
  • Psychosocial history, such as depression, sleep disturbances and bullying

Blood tests

Blood tests may also be requested which may include the following:

 

TREATMENT

Treatment for overweight children depends on your kid’s age and other medical conditions. Treatment will include changes in your kid’s dietary habits and physical activity levels. In specific conditions, treatment may include medicines or weight reduction surgery.

 

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