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  • Q&A with Australian Health Practitioners

    How can I tell if my child is overweight or obese?

    Related Topics
    Obesity Weight Management
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    Kaye Haslam

    Dietitian, Nutritionist

    As a private practice Dietitian/Nutritionist with over 30 years experience I have a special interest in weight management & related health issues such as Diabetes, … View Profile

    There are height/weight charts which health professionals use as a guide to determining whether a child is overweight or obese.
    Body Mass Index is often used to decide in which category a child falls.

    A BMI >25 or over the 85th percentile is considered to be overweight
    A BMI >30 or over the 95th percentile is considered to be obese.

    Remember these are guidelines & most health professionals would also take into account many other factors before defining these issues. 

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  • Sarah Perkins

    Dietitian, Exercise Scientist, Nutritionist

    Sarah is a Dietitian, Exercise Scientist & Nutritionist.Sarah is the director of the successful diet and exercise clinic Eat Play Live in Sydney’s inner west. … View Profile

    Unfortunalety an increasing amount of children in todays society are overwight or obese. Health professionals have tools which can be used with professional insight to indicate where a child sits in comparison to the rest of that population.

    Most importantly, when discussing weight is that if you are worried about your child's eating habits or changes in weight regardelss of wether they are overweight or not, discussing healhty eating for healthy bodies (not weight loss) or seeing a dietitian and/or exercise scientist who can teach children about healthy eating for life can be so important.

    Many parents fear seeing a professional so as to not worry the child about their weight or weight change and leave it until the child has a much larger reason to see someone. Professionals who work with children are there to build a child's (and/or parents- depending on age) confidence and knowledge in being able to look after their bodies.

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