Related Media: Ten Thousand Steps

Overweight or obesity in children is a serious health concern. Overweight children are more likely to have high cholesterol, high blood pressure, and type 2 diabetes. They also may deal with social discrimination from their peers, which can lead to poor self-esteem and depression. What’s more, overweight kids have a higher chance of having bone and joint disease or becoming overweight or obese adults.

But what does this mean? How do you know if your child is overweight? The best way to find out is to schedule a visit with your child's doctor, who can tell you if your child’s weight is in a healthy range. But if you are concerned that your child may be overweight, there are some other ways you can assess your child’s weight.

Methods for Assessing Children’s Weight

Cutoff Points

The CDC has established percentile cutoff points to help doctors and parents determine whether a child is of a healthy weight. Body composition (percentage of muscle and fat) can influence these numbers, but for most children, the following cutoff points apply accurately to children aged 2-20:

If Your Child Is Overweight

If your child is overweight, the National Institutes of Health (NIH) suggests you do the following:

1. Be supportive. Make sure your child knows that you love and accept them at any weight. Listen to your child’s concerns about weight and offer your support, acceptance, and encouragement.
2. Encourage healthy eating habits. Make an effort to keep a variety of healthful foods—fruits, vegetables, low-fat dairy products, whole grains, and lean meats—on hand. Practice healthful eating habits such as eating breakfast everyday, eating fast food less often, and healthy snacking.
3. Encourage daily physical activity. Help your child get some exercise everyday. When it’s safe and possible, let them walk to school, the store, or friends' houses. It also helps to encourage physical education in school, participation in extracurricular sports teams or classes, and to be active as a family.
4. Discourage too many inactive hobbies. Limit the time your child is allowed to watch TV, play video games, and surf the internet. Instead, help your child come up with fun alternatives to these hobbies.
5. Be a positive role model. Show your child that you lead a healthy lifestyle by eating healthful foods and being physically active. This way, your child will be more likely to adopt healthy eating and exercise habits that will last a lifetime.
6. Seek help. Your doctor and local recreation or community center may offer information and programs that will help you manage your child’s weight. Seek help from these resources if you need it.