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Childhood Obesity
Topend Kids > Health > Nutrition > Obesity > BMI Measurement
With the growing issue of obesity in children in the western world, there is a need to determine which children are at risk and to accurately monitor changes in the weight and obesity levels of the population and of individuals. One such measure is BMI, which has been a measure of adult status, and is not suitable for use with children.
What is BMI - Body Mass Index
BMI stands for Body Mass Index, and is a universally used index of body fatness. BMI is calculated by taking a person's weight and dividing by their height squared. For instance, if a person's height is 1.12 meters, the divisor of the calculation will be (1.12 * 1.12) = 1.254. If your weight is 26 kilograms, then your BMI is 20.7 (26 / 1.254).
Like any of these types of measures, BMI is only a guide. Professionals who use this measure understand that it does not accurately apply to elderly populations, pregnant women, very muscular athletes and children.
What is wrong with using BMI for children?
The problem with using BMI for children is that the standards used for adults do not apply to them. There are standards that have been adapted for the use with children, based on age, but these have been criticized as well.
What measure should be used?
Instead of BMI, how about just weight for height charts? These have been used for a long time to determine childrens (and babies) weight, height and head circumference according to the average. It is measured in percentiles, with the 50th percentile being the average, Above this is above average and below this is below average.
Also being used in the adult population to determine health status is simply a waist measure. With men over 100cm being at risk, and women who are over 90cm being at risk. A possible measure in children could be researched and used accordingly?
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