Your Child's Weight

"What's the right weight for my child?" is one of the most common questions parents have. It seems like a simple question. But, it's not always an easy one to answer. Why not? People have different body types, so there's no single number that's the right weight for everyone. Even among people who are the same height and age, some are more muscular or more developed than others. That's because not all kids have the same body type or develop at the same time.

It is possible to find out if your child is in a healthy weight range for his or her height, though - it just takes a little effort. You'll also be able to put your child's measurements into our BMI calculator and get an idea of how your child is doing.

Growth and Puberty

Not everyone grows and develops on the same schedule, but teens do go through a period of faster growth. During puberty, the body begins making hormones that spark physical changes like faster muscle growth (particularly in boys) and spurts in height and weight gain in both boys and girls. Once these changes start, they continue for several years. The average person can expect to grow as much as 10 inches (25 centimeters) during puberty before he or she reaches full adult height.

Most kids gain weight more rapidly during this time as the amounts of muscle, fat, and bone in their bodies changes. All that new weight gain can be perfectly fine - as long as body fat, muscle, and bone are in the right proportion.

Because some kids start developing as early as age 8 and some not until age 14 or so, it can be normal for two kids who are the same height and age to have very different weights.

It can feel quite strange for your child to adjust to suddenly feeling heavier or taller. So it's perfectly normal for your child to feel self-conscious about weight during adolescence - a lot of people do.

Figuring Out Fat Using BMI

Experts have developed a way to help figure out if a person is in the healthy weight range for his or her height. It's called the diabetes and high blood pressure. Being overweight as a teen also makes a person more likely to be overweight as an adult. And adults who are overweight may develop other serious health conditions, such as heart disease.

Although BMI can be a good indicator of a child's body fat, it doesn't always tell the full story. Someone can have a high BMI because he or she has a large frame or a lot of muscle (like a bodybuilder or athlete) instead of excess fat. Likewise, a small person with a small frame may have a normal BMI but could still have too much body fat. These are other good reasons to talk about your BMI with your doctor.

How Can I Be Sure My Child Is Not Overweight or Underweight?

If you think your child has gained too much weight or is too skinny, a doctor should help you decide whether your child really has a weight problem. Your doctor has measured your child's height and weight over time and knows whether he or she is growing normally.

If your doctor has a concern about your child's height, weight, or BMI, he or she may ask questions about your child's health, level of physical activity and eating habits. Your doctor may also ask about your family background to find out if your child has inherited traits that might make him or her taller, shorter, or a late bloomer (a person who develops later than other people the same age). The doctor can then put all this information together to decide whether your child might have a weight or growth problem.

If your doctor thinks your child's weight isn't in a healthy range, you will probably get specific dietary and exercise recommendations based on your child's individual needs. Following a doctor's or dietitian's plan that's designed especially for your child will work way better than following fad diets. For kids and teens, fad diets or starvation plans can actually slow down growth and sexual development, and the weight loss usually doesn't last.

What if your child is worried about being too skinny? Most teens who weigh less than other teens their age are just fine. They may be going through puberty on a different schedule than some of their peers, and their bodies may be growing and changing at a different rate. Most underweight teens catch up in weight as they finish puberty during their later teen years, and there's rarely a need to try to gain weight.

In a few cases, kids and teens can be underweight because of a health problem that needs treatment. If your child feels tired or ill a lot, or if your child has symptoms like a cough, stomachache, diarrhea, or other problems that have lasted for more than a week or 2, it's a good idea to talk with your child's doctor. Some kids and teens are underweight because of eating disorders, like anorexia or bulimia, that require attention.

Getting Into Your Genes

Heredity plays a role in body shape and what a person weighs. People from different races, ethnic groups, and nationalities tend to have different body fat distribution (meaning they accumulate fat in different parts of their bodies) or body composition (amounts of bone and muscle versus fat). But genes are not destiny. No matter whose genes you inherit, you can have a healthy body and keep your weight at a level that's normal for you by eating right and being active.

Genes aren't the only things that family members may share. It's also true that unhealthy eating habits can be passed down, too. The eating and exercise habits of people in the same household probably have an even greater effect than genes on a person's risk of becoming overweight. If your family eats a lot of high-fat foods or snacks or doesn't get much exercise, your child may tend to do the same. The good news is these habits can be changed for the better. Even simple forms of exercise, such as walking, have huge benefits for a person's health.

It can be tough dealing with the physical changes during puberty. But at this time, more than any other, it's not a specific number on the scale that's important. It's making sure that your child stays healthy - inside and out.

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