ANSWERS: 1
  • <h4 class="dechead">On One Hand: A child's weight is important

    A child should bbe somewhere between the 15th percentile and 85th percentile in their age weight group. For example, a 10-year-old boy who is 4 feet 2 inches tall and weighs 85 pounds is in the 95th percentile, meaning he is overweight. The same age child at the same height but at 65 pounds is in the 71th percentile, meaning he is at a healthy weight. Generally low weight could signify a heart problem or other medical condition, while high weight might mean a lack of exercise.

    On the Other: Low weight does not mean healthy

    According to the Baylor College of Medicine, children who work out or exercise regularly can be higher in the percentile because of "extra muscle mass, not excess body fat." Although a percentile range of 15 to 85 can mean a healthy child, it is still best to get the child checked out regularly by a doctor. Using the same example from above, a 10-year-old boy who is 4 feet 2 inches tall who weighs 45 pounds is in the 5th percentile, and is classified as underweight.

    Bottom Line

    Your child should weigh around the average for their age and height. Use the links at the bottom of this article for specific information about your child and what an average weight might be. Remember, this is not a replacement for doctor's visits, and every child is different.

    Source:

    KidsHealth.org: BMI Calculator: Kids

    Baylor College of Medicine: Children's BMI-percentile-for-age Calculator

    Resource:

    KidsHealth.org: BMI Calculator: Kids

    Baylor College of Medicine: Children's BMI-percentile-for-age Calculator

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