Ideal Body Weight for Kids

Diet is central to children achieving a healthy weight range.

A child's healthy weight is dependant upon many factors including age, sex, height, body type and race. As such, there is no set ideal. However, there are tools available to ascertain whether a child is within a healthy weight range.

Body Weight Measurement Tools

The Body Mass Index (BMI) is a widely used tool for measuring whether a child's weight falls within a healthy range. The BMI formula is: (weight/height squared) x 703.

Healthy BMI Weight Range

A BMI between 18.5 and 24.9 is considered healthy. The Center For Disease Control and Prevention and the American Academy of Pediatrics both recommend that the BMI be used to screen children aged 2 to 19 years for being overweight and obese.

Overweight Children

According to Britain's National Health System (NHS), one in three children aged between two and 10 years is overweight. Research indicates that an overweight child is more like to grow into an overweight adult.

Common Contributors to Weight Problems In Children

Although the reasons for unhealthy weight gain in children are varied, the most common contributors are lack of physical exercise and poor diet.

References

• National Institute of Diabetes and Digestive and Kidney Diseases: Obesity In Children
• Centers For Disease Control And Prevention: About BMI For Children And Teens
• American Academy of Child And Adolescent Psychiatry: Obesity In Children And Teens

Resources

• National Obesity Observatory: National Child Measurement Programme