Understanding the Definition of Childhood Obesity

Overweight refers to the state of weighing more than average for height and body build.

Most health care professionals consider children obese when their weight exceeds the 95th percentile for their age, gender, and height on the child height weight chart.

Children (including teens), whose weight falls in the 90th to 95th percentile for age, gender, and height on the child height weight chart is considered overweight.

No matter if your child is overweight or obese, according to the definition of childhood obesity you must act now to help your child.

Weighing too much is not good for your child's health.

It can even be deadly.

When your child is overweight or obese, it increases your child's risk of having health problems such as:

• Type 2 diabetes and
• High blood cholesterol.

Cholesterol is a fatty substance in the blood.

When a person has high levels of cholesterol in their blood this leads to heart disease.

Being overweight also leads to high blood pressure and heart problems later in life.

Your child also has a higher risk of being overweight as an adult.

If your child is overweight or obese, according to the childhood obesity definition, then they will feel more stress and sadness because of their weight issues.

Your child will develop:

• A low self-esteem.
• Be criticized.
• Teased.
• Treated differently by others.

You do not have to let this happen to your child.

You can help them understand the definition of childhood obesity and how to fight to win!

• Be a role model to your child. Children learn from your behavior. Your child will be more likely to make changes if he/she sees you making changes.
• Help your child increase their physical activity.
• Give them healthy foods that will help them reach a normal weight.
• Have the whole family make these lifestyle changes together. This will help your child not to feel singled out.
• Give your child three meals and only one or two snacks per day.
• Do not be to strict with your child�s diet.
• Do not force your child to eat all the food on their plate. Allow your child to decide when he/she is full. This will help your child to learn to stop eating when he/she is full.
• Make sure your family eats breakfast. Skipping breakfast will lead to overeating later in the day which is the main cause of obesity in the first place.
• Keep healthy snacks in the house such as fruits, vegetables, low-fat popcorn, or fat-free pudding.
• Your child will make these changes more easily if they see you making these changes.

Do not let the definition of childhood obesity make your child the next statistic!

Act now before it is too late.