Healthy Weight Awareness Month
anuary is Healthy Weight Awareness Month and the goal of this observance is to encourage families to intentionally incorporate physical activity and healthy foods into their little one’s diet to support their growth and development.
The appropriate balance of food and exercise can lead to:
Controlled weight
Reduced risk of diabetes
Reduced risk of cardiovascular diseases
Stronger bones and muscles
Reduced risk of cancers
Improved mental health
Improved mood
Why is weight monitoring in children important?
Weight monitoring can help you identify early changes in your child’s growth. If your child’s growth chart suggests that their weight and height are okay for their age, then that specifies that your child is growing normally. Both growing too fast or slowly may point towards nutritional or other health issues.
Growth monitoring can also indicate problems and disorders in the body if their weight is not normal such as:
Overweight: If your child's weight falls somewhere between the 85-85th percentile, they can be considered overweight.
Underweight: If your child’s weight falls beneath the 5th percentile, they can be considered underweight.
Obesity: If your child's weight measures above the 95th percentile, they can be considered obese.
Genetic and endocrine disorders - Excessive weight gain in children can be indicative of Pituitary or Thalamic disorders. It could also mean that the child is suffering from hypothyroidism.
These are only possibilities, so don’t panic over your child’s growth. Actively partnering with your child’s primary care provider can aid in monitoring your child’s weight.
How you can support your child’s weight monitoring:
There are several ways for you to support your child’s weight monitoring and overall development. Check some of these tips out below:
Enroll your child in an activity that incorporates physical movement (i.e. local sports team, after-school program, youth-focused program, etc.)
Set a schedule for “tech-time” and replace time your child may spend on a tablet, phone or other device with an exercise you both participate in
Find new recipes to try weekly that incorporate a new fruit or vegetable
Create food-themed scavenger hunts with healthy food alternatives as the prize
Develop a nutrition plan with your child’s primary care provider and actively monitor your child’s weight together
Have questions about developing a plan unique for your child? Looking for general tips to support your child’s growth? Get connected with a Clackamas & Oregon Pediatrics provider today!