My son is 10 years old height is 51.5 inches,weight is 86 pounds is he obese?
Answer:
To judge whether your son is at a healthy weight, health professionals not only look at the scale, but also use a growth chart. This chart compares growth in height and weight over time (from birth). If your son has consistently followed the same growth curve from birth, he would be in a healthy range for his body type. Another tool we use is the body mass index or BMI (an estimate used to determine if a person might be at health risk due to their weight). In children, a BMI under the 5th percentile or over the 85th percentile indicates health concern.
Since you stated that his height is 51.5 inches and his weight 86 lbs., I calculated his BMI using the on-line tool here. It calculated his BMI to be in the 95th percentile which is considered overweight.
Since you are concerned about his weight, it would be a good idea to take him to see the doctor for an evaluation; A visit with a registered dietitian would also be helpful. The dietitian will make sure that he takes in enough calories to support his continuing growth and ensure that he is getting the proper nutrients he needs (including protein, iron, and calcium for development of bone and lean tissue).
If you visit the MyPyramid.gov website, you can find a diet to meet his needs according to age, gender, and activity level. Go to my pyramid plan here. Remember to choose nutritious foods (fruits, vegetables, whole grains, low-fat dairy, lean meats, nuts) and limit the junk foods (chips, fried foods, pop, candy).
Another recommendation is to read the book "Your Child's Weight: Helping Without Harming (Birth through Adolescence)" by Ellyn Satter, MS, RD, LCSW, BCD. I hope this helps put things into perspective for you. Be sure to speak to his doctor if you have any further concerns.
Join us on Facebook
