(Older) children's growth charts where weight is plotted against height not age

[roisin]

Do they exist?

DS1 (10) is spot on 98th percentile for weight and a bit above 98th percentile for height.

So that's OK isn't it?

DS1 has just started to say he is fat. (He's not - he's just developed a little bit of a tummy, because he hasn't grown in height much over the past 12 months and is gearing up for a growth spurt, I think.)

I know 3 anorexic teenage boys, so I'm very sensitive to the issue. And I want to prove to him that he is OK as he is. That it's important to continue to eat a healthy diet and keep active, but nothing drastic required.

not sure about the growth chart you mention Roisin but he does seem to be PERFECTLY in proportion. Most children seem to fill out ahead of a growth spurt, then it's like they've been put on a stretching rack! You're right to take the approach you are doing.

What about adults' BMI index charts? Presumably can find them on the NHS website ...

Ds, as I think I might have said already, is on very similar percentiles. I do make a bit of a thing about him getting loads of exercise, to keep up his stamina - I think if you are quite well-built once you've lost stamina it's a really uphill job to get those muscles moving fast again.

I have found an online child BMI calculator:

BMI calculator

Thanks for those links and advice.

According to that link his BMI is 20.8 - which sounds pretty good to me.

But according to the graph on that link a 10 yr-old has a healthy BMI of between 14 and 19.5! But again that's measured against age and an average 10 yr-old is much smaller.

It does say "if your son has an athletic, muscular build however, his BMI may be plotted above the shaded area even though he is not overweight."

I give up! I might try and find out when the school nurse is next in school and get someone official to have a chat with him and put his mind at ease.

He does actually have fantastic stamina and can keep swimming lengths for ever! He's going to do a trial for the swimming club on Sunday, and hopefully that will up his exercise too.

I'm overweight (doing WW atm) and I am adamant I don't want the boys to become paranoid about it too: especially ds2 as he is a rake!

Those charts are nuts
They don't work for tall children.

DS2 really is very, very skinny. He's long and gangly, and we can never find trousers that fit. But he is tall for his age. On that BMI chart he is bang on the 50th centile for his age.

Right I'll stick with my dog-eared Red Book then!

Well done (and good luck!) to ds1 for the swimming trials roisin - swimming is just a brilliant thing. Apparently riding a bike standing on the pedals (not sitting), is recommended too.

If no charts seem to work for anyone then what hope from the HV?
Sorry but am sickof being told my DD is "big" for her age but no scientific means of measuring it.
If height is proportional to weight then surely all is OK?