Obesity

How is obesity in children diagnosed? 

To determine if a child is obese, a doctor will use the child's body mass index (BMI) to obtain a percentile ranking. BMI is a measure of weight in relation to height and it indicates the amount of body fat your child has.

BMI is a measure of weight in relation to height and indicates the amount of body fat your child has. If your child’s BMI falls at or above the 95^th percentile, he is considered obese. In this case, your child’s doctor might do a full physical exam and screen for the following:

• diabetes
• high blood pressure
• abnormal blood lipids (high cholesterol, high triglycerides, and low levels of good, HDL cholesterol)
• fatty liver
• menstrual problems in girls
• psychological problems

Your child is considered overweight and at risk for obesity if his BMI falls between the 85^th and 95^th percentiles. In this case, your doctor might screen for the following:

• family history of cardiovascular disease, elevated total cholesterol, diabetes, parental obesity
• large increases in BMI assessments from year to year
• person concerns about weight, (emotional or psychological)
• concerns related to weight and perception of self as overweight
• blood pressure