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? 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 on the rise and in response many schools
are adding BMI to the annual health screening of their students.
Though some parents are uncomfortable with the idea of a BMI
report card, a child who is overweight is at increased risk of
developing health problems, such as high blood pressure and
diabetes. Parents are encouraged to share this information with
their child's doctor, who can help interpret the results and
make recommendations. 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
appropriate portion size