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unhealthy weight in children

body mass index (bmi), which measures weight in relation to height, is used to identify a possible weight problem for a child older than 2 years old.

a child age 2 to younger than 5 who has a bmi:

  • below the 3rd percentile is at risk for underweight.
  • in the 3rd percentile to below the 85th percentile is at a healthy weight.
  • in the 85th percentile to the 97th percentile is at risk for overweight.
  • above the 97th percentile to the 99.9th percentile is overweight.
  • above the 99th percentile is obese.

a child ages 5 to 19 who has a bmi:

  • below the 3rd percentile is at risk for underweight.
  • in the 3rd percentile to below the 85th percentile is at a healthy weight.
  • in the 85th percentile to the 97th percentile is overweight.
  • above the 97th percentile to the 99.9th percentile is obese.
  • above the 99th percentile is severely obese.

children grow at a different rates. your doctor can tell you if your child's weight is a concern.

in some cases, a child may be considered at risk for overweight or overweight because he or she has a large amount of body fat (adipose tissue). but not all children with bmis in the 85th to 97th percentile have too much body fat. for instance:

  • a child who has grown consistently at a higher percentile for most of his or her life may just be bigger than other children of the same age due to genetics.
  • before and during puberty, it is normal for children to have a significant gain in weight before beginning to grow in height. this can temporarily increase a child's bmi.
  • children who are very muscular (for instance, children who are very active in sports) may have a higher bmi but have normal or even low amounts of body fat.

this information does not replace the advice of a doctor. healthwise, incorporated, disclaims any warranty or liability for your use of this information. your use of this information means that you agree to the terms of use. learn how we develop our content.

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