DS weight and height on 95th centile - should I be worried?

[curlyblonde]

DS9’s weight is on the 95th centile and so is his height. According to the NHS BMI calculator he is overweight. His height is also in the 95th centile - very tall parents. He is chunkier than I would like but he is extremely active - plays as much sport as we can fit in, walks or cycle to school every day. I serve him healthy food, limit sweets etc. The BMI calculator doesn’t take height into account. Should I be worried? Not sure what to do!

What are you talking about, sorry? All NHS BMI calculators, adult and children, take height into account.

I'm not sure you have anything to worry about if his centile chart is consistent height and weight wise. Has he always been at 95 H&W wise or at least consistent?

If he is chunky he is having too much food, healthy or not.

What do you mean it doesnt take height into account? That is literally how BMI is calculated, weight against height.
BMI is pretty basis and old school (controversial). As long as hes healthy, active, eating the right stuff and more importantly, as long as he is happy then thats more important.

How old is he? Has he always been on the 95 centile? Can you clearly see his ribs when he is naked?

Well someone has to be on the 95th percentile. If he’s on the same percentile for height and weight then he’s in proportion so I wouldn’t be particularly worried.

If his height is on the 95th percentile then his weight being on it also isn't an issue.

Children's height and weight percentiles should be generally around the same areas on the chart, give or take.

Of course the BMI takes height into account. It’s not a perfect measurement by any means but it’s literally plotting height against weight. If his shows as ‘overweight’ the calculator is saying he’s too heavy for his height. Of course it can be wrong, if he plays a lot of sport and is very muscular for example that can throw it off but if he looks chunky to you then possibly he is overweight. Also, I know you say he’s tall but worth keeping in mind that overweight children do grow taller faster. And it’s possible to eat too much of healthy home cooked food, it doesn’t have to be junk food. What are his portion sizes like? Is he having enough protein to fill up?

How old is he? Could be that he is just growing quick early on, especially if you and his dad are tall. The ‘chunkyness’ is worth monitoring to ensure he is educated about healthy and balanced food choices, especially if he is likely to inherit genes where he will easily put on weight - i say this as some of us just do! My daughter has always been on a high percentile, but she is tall for her age and I’m guessing she will follow in my footsteps and develop early (I seemed to stop growing around 11/12 and started my periods at 9/10). Try to educate regarding nutrition, and it’s good that he is so active - be careful tho as I was an overweight child and looking back i was allowed to eat a lot of rubbish….. but I became so obsessed with food I developed an eating disorder as a result and I still live with it today in my late 30’s so please tread carefully.

How old is he? Ds was born on the 98th centile and at 11 was borderline overweight according to nhs measurements. He shot up a bit in the next year and that sorted it out. I do seem to remember the child bmi calculators gving different results to the adult ones, not sure why.

BMI is at best a guide for adults - for kids it is not accurate at all. If he looks healthy, eats healthily and exercises well relax.

Looking at the nhs website, the child bmi calculator asks for age as well as height and weight, so it must alter the calculation to some extent.
I do remember being miffed that there didn't seem to be an allowance for the fact he had always been tall and over 9lb at birth.

What age clothes is he in ?

That’s pretty much 100% weight for height ie when the centiles are the same. A lot has also to do with build. As a mum with a child with an eating disorder 100% wfh is generally considered recovered. Some children are naturally willowy and naturally have a much higher centile for height than weight and will always struggle to get to 100%. Others naturally need more weight and would be ill and underweight under these circumstances and sometimes a little over 100% is right for them.

If he is a bit ‘chunky’ then assume you mean he is a little overweight. Regardless of height, so maybe reign in any sugary snacks for a while.

Since both parents are very tall, it is only to be expected their DC is too. I would have thought that it is reassuring that the height and weight are on the same centile, which sounds to me like his weight is in proportion to his height.

My DD1 was off the top of the chart for height from birth and both parents are tallish. Now an adult and 6'. Age 10, they put on a load of weight and got quite chubby and then age 11, they grew something like 6' and weight was in proportion again. I'm glad to say she is now a beautiful tall slim adult.

Are you sure this 'chunkiness' is flab? Or is he perhaps very broad framed and/or muscular? Some people are built like weight lifters of rugby players and others are built like high jumpers..... all equally healthy but very different.