Is Your Child Overweight?

How do I know if my child is overweight? -- Heather Lyons, Mass.

Currently, nearly 1 in 3 youngsters under the age of 19 are considered overweight or obese. So if your child doesn't fit into his jeans, does he automatically fit into this category?

For children and teens, pediatricians typically assess their weight by Body Mass Index for age. This is similar to BMI calculated for adults -- a ratio of height and weight -- except that children are segmented into percentiles which indicate the relative position of their BMI number among children of the same sex and age. A child is classified as overweight if she falls into the 85th to 95th percentile, and obese if she falls within the 95th percentile or above. You can determine your child's BMI-for-age score with the following charts.

If your child does register high on the BMI-for-age scale, don't freak out -- but in all honesty, it is cause for concern. Being overweight can set your child up for life long health issues, including early heart disease, type 2 diabetes and many other illness associated with poor lifestyle habits, not to mention the social stigmas that are attached. And fat kids are more likely to become fat adults.

There are many factors at work that increase your child's risk of becoming overweight, including genetics, psychology and socioeconomics. A steady diet of junk food is not the least among them. A recent study by University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill researchers shows that snacking on junk food now accounts for more than 27 percent of daily caloric intake in children and adds 168 calories per day.

Other investigators suspect that a more slothful lifestyle ruled by TV and computer time may be why children are growing stouter. Kids and teens spend nearly four hours a day in front of a TV screen and almost two additional hours on the computer (outside of schoolwork) and playing video games. That's time they could be spending running, jumping playing and otherwise expending excess calories. Plus, as they sit staring at the screen they are exposed to an endless parade of ads for chips, cookies, candy and other junk food which, studies show, further increase the likelihood of eating a nutritionally poor, fat-and-calorie laden diet.

"You are a mirror for your children," said Neal Pire, owner of InsPire Training, a Manhattan-based personal training company with a specialty in children's fitness. "If you want them to eat well and exercise, you have to provide a good example." According to Pire, helping your kids control weight issues means dealing with yours in a sensible, healthy way. That means making sensible lifestyle habits, such as smart eating and regular workouts your way of life and avoiding poor health habits like constant snacking, crash diets, and marathon coach potato sessions.

"The best strategies for preventing obesity in your children include eating a sit-down dinner at home (daily or as often as possible), limiting TV, PC, video game time while maximizing physical activity opportunities," he advised.

Surprisingly, Pire as well as other experts, say that most kids who are at the high end of the weight scale should not try to lose weight. Instead, they should try not to gain any more weight for at least a few months. As your child grows and gets taller, it's easy to see why this can be a helpful strategy.

Once they've stopped the upward march of the needle on the scale -- and if they still have a ways to go -- experts recommend losing no more than a pound a month unless otherwise advised by your pediatrician. Pire says the best way to do this is by limiting snacks, eating three meals and getting at least 60 minutes of physical activity each and every day.

Childhood obesity has more than tripled in the last 30 years. In February, First Lady Michelle Obama unveiled her Let's Move! partnership bringing together schools, parents, businesses and nonprofits to battle the growing epidemic of childhood obesity.

Do you have a question for Michelle about her plan? You can ask her on Tuesday, July 13 at 10 a.m. Eastern time during her first-ever live web chat on AOL Health. The first lady will be discussing the newly enhanced Let's Move! website and answering your questions live! To submit a question, send an email to askmichelleobama@aol.com (please include your name and town) between now until Monday, July 12th at 10:00 a.m.

Is weight something you argue about with your teenager or worry about with your four-year-old? What steps are you taking to make sure your kids maintain a healthy weight? Has your child ever been teased for being too fat -- or to thin? I'd like to hear about your struggles and triumphs in this area. Post a comment here or tweet me @lizzyfit on Twitter.