Study Doctors Don't Always Diagnosis an Overweight Child- Online Children's BMI Calculator

I know this may seem surprising. Maybe even shocking to many of us, but according to a recent study published in Pediatrics Journal, doctors are not informing parents when their kids are overweight or obese.

Here is what the study found:

• 10% of the kids who were overweight were diagnosed
• 54% of the kids who were obese were diagnosed
• 76% of the severely obese kids were diagnosed

Sometimes, it is hard for a parent to objectively look at their child and see that they are overweight and need changes made in their lifestyle. We know this as parents and this has been confirmed by studies! How can we address the problem until we first recognize it.

What does this mean to us? If a BMI is not calculated for your child, please ask them to do it. When they do the calculation, ask them to review the results with you. Talk with them about your child's eating habits and activity habits. You must be proactive, your child's long term well-being is counting on it.

To read more about BMI, click here. You can also download our age appropriate pediatric sheet (at the bottom of page) to take to the doctor during your child's annual well check-up. These sheets are designed to provide you with key topics on how to keep your child healthy.