Updated June 08, 2015.
Sometimes, it’s hard to know what a normal, healthy weight is supposed to be. Magazines and television give the impression that muscle-bound men and very thin women are the norm. On the other hand, some people and cultures think that being overweight is preferable and more attractive. It might be difficult for you or your teen to know what is a healthy weight.
Many times, the number of pounds your teen weighs doesn’t tell the whole story.
For example, a teenage boy who is 150 pounds might be underweight, average weight or overweight, depending upon his age and height. The most accurate way to gauge whether or not your teen is overweight is by calculating his or her Body Mass Index, or BMI.
According to the Centers for Disease Control (CDC), the BMI is a reliable way to calculate how much of a body is made up of fat. It is a quick and simple screening method that allows health care providers to determine if a child is underweight, normal weight or overweight.
Now you have a number, but what do you do with it? The BMI only tells part of the story. To determine if your teen is a healthy weight or not, you have to use the BMI-for-age chart for the gender of your child. Go here for the boy’s chart and here for the girl’s chart.
What you are looking for on the graph is the percentile that your child falls into. For example, if your 14-year-old daughter has a BMI of 19.5, she would fall onto the 50th percentile category.
Once you have the percentile, determine which category your teen fits into:
Weight and body fat is a very sensitive issue for many of us. Because teenagers are also dealing with other changes in their bodies due to puberty, weight issues can be particularly troubling for them. Keep these things in mind when approaching this difficult subject.
If your teen is considered normal weight, continue to reinforce the good habits he or she has. A healthy diet and plenty of exercise can contribute to continued success in maintaining a healthy weight and BMI.
If your teen is outside of the normal BMI range, you may want to discuss your findings with your pediatrician, family physician or other health care professional before approaching your teen. Frame size (or the size of the bone structure) and muscularity can make a difference in whether or not the BMI is accurate. A trusted health care provider can help you interpret the BMI. If there is a cause for concern, enlist your provider’s help in finding ways to discuss the issue with your teen.
It is important to note that obesity is on the rise in the United States. Currently, 16.3% of teens assessed between 2003 and 2006 by the NHANES study were shown to be obese. This is significant because of how dangerous obesity can be for teens. Obese adolescents are at risk for developing high blood pressure, high cholesterol and Type 2 diabetes while still in their teens. Additionally, obese teens can develop orthopedic issues, sleep apnea or asthma due to their increased body weight. If you have concerns about your teen's obesity, talk to your health care provider and discuss ways to help your teen with this issue.
Source:
About BMI for Children and Teens. Centers for Disease Control. September 5, 2008. http://www.cdc.gov/nccdphp/dnpa/healthyweight/assessing/bmi/childrens_BMI/about_childrens_BMI.htm
Overweight and Obesity. Centers for Disease Control. September 30, 2008. http://www.cdc.gov/nccdphp/dnpa/obesity/
Is Your Teen Overweight?
Sometimes, it’s hard to know what a normal, healthy weight is supposed to be. Magazines and television give the impression that muscle-bound men and very thin women are the norm. On the other hand, some people and cultures think that being overweight is preferable and more attractive. It might be difficult for you or your teen to know what is a healthy weight.
Weight vs. BMI
Many times, the number of pounds your teen weighs doesn’t tell the whole story.
For example, a teenage boy who is 150 pounds might be underweight, average weight or overweight, depending upon his age and height. The most accurate way to gauge whether or not your teen is overweight is by calculating his or her Body Mass Index, or BMI.
According to the Centers for Disease Control (CDC), the BMI is a reliable way to calculate how much of a body is made up of fat. It is a quick and simple screening method that allows health care providers to determine if a child is underweight, normal weight or overweight.
How to Calculate Your Teen’s BMI
- Obtain an accurate height and weight. Measurements from a physician’s office may be the most accurate, as the staff has experience in taking these measurements.
- Calculate BMI with the standard formulas.
- If using pounds and inches: Weight in pounds/(height in inches)2 X 703
- If using kilograms and meters: Weight in kilograms/(height in meters)2
- You can also use the online calculator from the National Heart, Lung and Blood institute to get a BMI value.
- If using pounds and inches: Weight in pounds/(height in inches)2 X 703
- Come up with a number. Take your number and round it to the nearest tenth. For example, if you get a BMI of 18.472, round that number to 18.5.
How to Use the BMI
Now you have a number, but what do you do with it? The BMI only tells part of the story. To determine if your teen is a healthy weight or not, you have to use the BMI-for-age chart for the gender of your child. Go here for the boy’s chart and here for the girl’s chart.
What you are looking for on the graph is the percentile that your child falls into. For example, if your 14-year-old daughter has a BMI of 19.5, she would fall onto the 50th percentile category.
Once you have the percentile, determine which category your teen fits into:
- Less than 5th percentile = Underweight
- 5th percentile to the 85th percentile = Healthy weight
- 85th percentile to less than 95th percentile = Overweight
- Greater than or equal to 95th percentile = Obese
Next Steps
Weight and body fat is a very sensitive issue for many of us. Because teenagers are also dealing with other changes in their bodies due to puberty, weight issues can be particularly troubling for them. Keep these things in mind when approaching this difficult subject.
If your teen is considered normal weight, continue to reinforce the good habits he or she has. A healthy diet and plenty of exercise can contribute to continued success in maintaining a healthy weight and BMI.
If your teen is outside of the normal BMI range, you may want to discuss your findings with your pediatrician, family physician or other health care professional before approaching your teen. Frame size (or the size of the bone structure) and muscularity can make a difference in whether or not the BMI is accurate. A trusted health care provider can help you interpret the BMI. If there is a cause for concern, enlist your provider’s help in finding ways to discuss the issue with your teen.
It is important to note that obesity is on the rise in the United States. Currently, 16.3% of teens assessed between 2003 and 2006 by the NHANES study were shown to be obese. This is significant because of how dangerous obesity can be for teens. Obese adolescents are at risk for developing high blood pressure, high cholesterol and Type 2 diabetes while still in their teens. Additionally, obese teens can develop orthopedic issues, sleep apnea or asthma due to their increased body weight. If you have concerns about your teen's obesity, talk to your health care provider and discuss ways to help your teen with this issue.
Source:
About BMI for Children and Teens. Centers for Disease Control. September 5, 2008. http://www.cdc.gov/nccdphp/dnpa/healthyweight/assessing/bmi/childrens_BMI/about_childrens_BMI.htm
Overweight and Obesity. Centers for Disease Control. September 30, 2008. http://www.cdc.gov/nccdphp/dnpa/obesity/