My son is 6 years old, and I just got his BMI report card from school. It says
he is overweight. What does that mean? What do I do now?
– Amy
BMI, or body mass index,
is a calculation that uses height and weight to estimate how much body fat a person
has. Childhood obesity is a serious problem, so many schools have added BMI to the
annual health screening of their students.
Some parents are uncomfortable with the idea of a BMI report card. But an overweight
child has a greater chance of developing health problems, such as high
blood pressure and diabetes.
Parents should share the BMI information with their child's doctor, who can help interpret
the results and offer advice.
Here are some tips to help kids maintain a healthy weight:
- Encourage kids to be active
every day. Experts recommend that kids get 60 minutes or more of physical activity
daily.
- Offer fruits and vegetables at meals and snacks and encourage your child to eat
five or more servings a day.
- Serve the right portion sizes
for your child's age.
- Limit sugar-sweetened beverages and offer low-fat milk or
water instead.
- Limit screen time (time
spent watching TV, playing video games, using a smartphone, computer, or other device)
to less than 2 hours a day.
- Set a good example by eating healthy, being physically active, and limiting the
time you spend in front of a screen.
Date reviewed: January 2020
