Once BMI is calculated, it can be compared to a reference table to determine if a child is underweight, average, overweight, or obese. Finding out if your child is overweight can be confusing. BMI for boys and girls is different. Also since children of different ethnic and social backgrounds differ in terms of fat distribution, and children are always changing in terms of growth spurts and sexual maturity, BMI does not always identify those children who are truly overweight. Since weight loss is more difficult to achieve once an adult is obese, preventing children from becoming obese is a critical health concern with long-term implications.
Exercise is one important way to address the increase of obesity in children.
May is National Fitness Month and a great time to start being active . Twenty-five per cent of Canadian children are considered to be overweight . Children's recreation is affected by their family income level. Physical activity varies by income - and the participation gap is growing. Good communities can lessen the harmful effects of being poor.