Skip to main content
832-843-2049

My Child's BMI Is High: What Should I Do?

Neighborhood Pediatrics Blog My Child's BMI Is High: What Should I Do?
My Child's BMI Is High: What Should I Do?

The obesity issue is a serious one in the United States, and it touches the lives of millions of Americans of all ages. While carrying too many pounds isn’t great at any age, for the 1 in 5 kids and teens who have obesity in the US, they’re not only at higher risk for health issues now, but also for severe and chronic issues in adulthood.

If your child has a high body mass index (BMI), it’s a good idea to address the issue now to set the stage for a healthier future.

The Neighborhood Pediatrics team, led by Dr. Sharon Lucas and Dr. Rachel McConnell, presents the following information about obesity in kids and the steps to take.

Understanding BMI 

Let’s first discuss what we mean by high BMI and obesity. Calculating your child’s BMI is simple — you input their height and weight, and the calculator provides you with a number that indicates the percentage of body fat.

Any number between 25 and 29.9 is overweight, while a BMI of 30 and higher registers as obesity.

While we refer to the weight issue in kids as childhood obesity, a BMI that's more than 25 is one that you should act on, even though it might only qualify as overweight.

The dangers of childhood obesity

To provide you with an incentive to address your child’s weight, we touch on some of the health issues linked to carrying too many pounds, which include:

Outside of these serious health issues, kids who carry extra weight often have image problems, and their mental health can suffer. This complication is as serious as the physical ones we listed above.

Helping your child achieve a healthier weight

There are two main drivers of childhood obesity: diet and lack of exercise. So, let's start with the first.

At our practice, we emphasize good nutritional practices, and we’re here to help you create a diet that’s long on nutrition and short on useless calories.

Eating in today's world is challenging because much of our food contains empty calories that are full of harmful fats and sugars. Sure, processed and junk foods are convenient, but they’re not doing your child’s health any favors, and they’re a fast road to obesity.

So, through our nutritional guidance, we can help you transition your child’s diet to one that favors healthier foods, such as fruits, vegetables, whole grains, and lean proteins. We promise, it’s not as difficult as it might seem, and we help you make the changes gradually and in a way that works with your family.

Now let’s talk about exercise — this is as important as diet in lowering high BMI numbers, so we review ways in which your child can get some exercise. We recommend at least an hour a day; we can share great ways to exercise.

If your child has a high BMI, let’s work together to reduce this number for the sake of their present and future health. To get started, contact us at our Shenandoah, Texas, office at 832-843-2049 today to schedule a consultation or use the online booking feature.

You Might Also Enjoy...

Navigating Childhood Vaccines

Navigating Childhood Vaccines
As you welcome a new child into the world, you want to do everything you can to keep them safe. One of the best ways to do that is through vaccinations and here’s how to navigate this seemingly confusing process.