https://boards.hellobee.com/ Pregnancy, Baby and Parenting blog, by Hellobee en Fri, 15 May 2026 13:14:13 +0000 https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/is-bmi-accurateappropriate-for-children#post-2915469 Sat, 16 May 2020 19:11:52 +0000 pastemoo 2915469@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>@MLE81: They do have child BMI scales which are totally different than for adult; they are like weight-for-length charts, you can find them by googling "WHO or CDC growth chart" and then selecting age.</p> <p>They need to be seen in a bigger picture, not just as one spot in time. Kids go through spurts where they get fatter, then the get taller and thin out, so you have to see the trend.</p> <p>Ask your pediatrician. It is most likely no big deal and nothing to worry about unless she is trending to higher and higher numbers consistently. </p> <p>I'd try not to worry, and bring it up at the next well visit unless something else is also changing. Kids lose their baby fat at different ages, don't compare her to other kids, just to herself at previous points of measurement. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/is-bmi-accurateappropriate-for-children#post-2915457 Sat, 16 May 2020 03:14:47 +0000 Kemma 2915457@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>BMI was originally designed as a means of measuring populations or large groups of people so it’s a pretty sh*t and blunt measure of individual health! I also wouldn’t rely on one single weight measurement as a means of health because growth isn’t always linear.</p> <p>All you can do is keep offering a good variety of nutritious tastes and textures (and that variety should include “fun” foods) and help her be active. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/is-bmi-accurateappropriate-for-children#post-2915345 Wed, 13 May 2020 13:31:31 +0000 Mrs. Carrot 2915345@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>@bhbee: Thanks! I feel exactly the same, and I had to have a really frank conversation with my mother (and I imagine it's not the only/last one we'll have) about not saying anything to my daughter about her body. My mom thinks she's doing everything out of good intentions ("I just don't want her to get picked on!") without realizing how negatively it can still affect how a kid perceives her body, just like it did me. And I noticed myself spiraling when my daughter went through a major growth spurt after she started school two years ago and developed a body type that's parallel to mine and her dad's and really had to work hard to check myself and how I was talking to her and thinking myself. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/is-bmi-accurateappropriate-for-children#post-2915265 Tue, 12 May 2020 08:28:06 +0000 bhbee 2915265@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>@Mrs. Carrot: I’m getting off topic here but just wanted to say I love this response. The subliminal messaging girls get is so powerful. The one I got pretty clearly is that I am worth more when I’m thinner. I struggle with it today and it is one of my biggest hopes not to pass that kind of stuff on. My two girls also look like they are going to have different body types so I want to work extra hard to keep it all neutral. I still hear my mom say so much body stuff that makes me cringe. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/is-bmi-accurateappropriate-for-children#post-2915259 Tue, 12 May 2020 05:19:52 +0000 Mrs. Carrot 2915259@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>@MLE81: I'm a reader so I read the book myself and don't know the website well so maybe both? :)</p> <p>I totally hear you on the teasing, it's a huge concern of mine as well. The way I'm thinking about it with my daughter is that there's probably nothing I can do to control what mean kids might do. If not her weight, it'll be something else potentially. What I CAN do is be a safe space for her. If what she knows from me is that all bodies are good and healthy and strong no matter what they look like, and no food is bad, and we listen to our bodies, etc. then hopefully if the outside world is a jerk to her, she can find safety and confidence at home. I was teased nonstop as a kid, and while my mom did her best to make me feel better, I also always knew that she saw my body as a "wrong" body because she'd tried to fix me since I was a little kid. She was never punitive toward me, she wanted to save me from teasing too, but what I heard is that my body needs fixing. I don't want my kid to ever feel that so I've been trying really hard to neutralize my own lifelong issues to avoid raising her the same way I was. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/is-bmi-accurateappropriate-for-children#post-2915249 Mon, 11 May 2020 18:53:41 +0000 poppygirl15 2915249@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>FWIW, we just had my 4 year old’s well child appointment today. They wanted DS to come in because they didn’t want him to delay the vaccines he’s due for. So, you may be able to see your dr sooner than you think. Otherwise, if you don’t feel comfortable going in, or it’s not offered, maybe you could set up a phone appointment. That way you could speak honestly to your daughter’s dr about your concerns without worrying about embarrassing her, which it sounds like you’re being super careful about. Just a thought if it’s weighing on your mind, might help to raise the concern. Good luck! She’s lucky to have such a thoughtful mama! </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/is-bmi-accurateappropriate-for-children#post-2915216 Mon, 11 May 2020 11:22:02 +0000 MLE81 2915216@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>@Mrs. Carrot: thank you for you detailed response.</p> <p>I love Kids Eat in Color, and will definitely revisit Ellen Satter’s work - would you recommend the book in addition/as opposed to the website?</p> <p>We don’t generally limit food, unless she asks for “candy” for dinner ;), and we definitely try to only talk about our bodies in neutral or positive ways. I was overweight as a child and remember the teasing, so I guess a part of me wants to help my DD avoid that...but I clearly need to make sure I’m supporting and encouraging her to be healthy in a positive way, that isn’t tied to her weight or body type/shape. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/is-bmi-accurateappropriate-for-children#post-2915215 Mon, 11 May 2020 11:12:39 +0000 MLE81 2915215@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>@JennyPenny: thanks for your feedback. You’re absolutely right that diet and activity are important whether they affect her weight or not, and I’m probably focusing on her weight way too much (though I never say anything to her about it). </p> <p>I’ll ask about her growth curve when we can finally see our doc for her 4 year check up, just to see if there has been a major shift. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/is-bmi-accurateappropriate-for-children#post-2915213 Mon, 11 May 2020 11:07:24 +0000 MLE81 2915213@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>@Silva: thanks for your reply. I read a lot on Ellen Satter’s website a few years ago, but I think I will revisit to refresh myself. </p> <p>We haven’t had her 4 year check up due to the pandemic, but when we do I guess I can see where she is on her growth curve and whether there really is any concern.</p> <p>Her diet has slowly been expanding over the past few months, so we are making progress ;) </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/is-bmi-accurateappropriate-for-children#post-2915178 Sun, 10 May 2020 12:38:18 +0000 Mrs. Carrot 2915178@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>BMI is not a measure of health for any human, though unfortunately it refuses to go away. as a "best practice." It's especially problematic for kids because they have so much growing to do and they change so quickly. </p> <p>Short answer - disregard the BMI and weight entirely, encourage a diversity of foods, do not limit food, even if you consider it "unhealthy" (there's no such thing and it creates restrictive eating habits that create bigger body and weight management issues), and get activity where you can. Like @silva said, the book by Ellyn Satter is a gold standard in feeding kids well and effectively. The Instagram account Kids Eat in Color is also great. </p> <p>Longer answer: there is no "right" body to have and the best thing we can do for our kids is encourage variety of food, activity that they love, and perhaps most importantly, keeping our talk about bodies neutral and positive, never negative. Any kind of food restriction and negative feelings about weight are the number one predictor of disordered eating as kids get older and the best we can do for them is model and encourage. </p> <p>This is a topic I feel really strongly about as a lifelong large woman who's delt with a ton of body issues herself and now has a daughter who is in a larger body (despite having been born a premie and having spent the first 4 years under the growth curve). I read and try to learn a lot on this topic so that I don't pass on any food and body issues to her. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/is-bmi-accurateappropriate-for-children#post-2915171 Sun, 10 May 2020 05:44:35 +0000 JennyPenny 2915171@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>I’m not an expert but since BMI is not an accurate measure of adult health I would expect it’s even worse for kids who are still growing and changing quickly. For example, my son just grew 2 inches in the past 6 months with barely any weight change. According to the calculator he went from obese to normal in that time. That alone signals to me that the measure isn’t very useful. Instead I’d take a look at her behaviors and her growth curve. You mentioned her eating and physical activity hasn’t been great lately so it probably is worth focusing on that for its own sake - not for what it will do for her weight. And if she’s had a big shift on her weight curve that would concern me personally. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/is-bmi-accurateappropriate-for-children#post-2915163 Sat, 09 May 2020 20:21:44 +0000 Silva 2915163@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>No, it is not appropriate at all. Try to let go of those thoughts. If your doctor had any concerns about your child's weight gain they would let you know. Otherwise, just continue to encourage family meals, joyful eating, and a diverse diet.<br /> Consider looking into Ellyn Satter's website for more tips. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/is-bmi-accurateappropriate-for-children#post-2915161 Sat, 09 May 2020 18:35:51 +0000 MLE81 2915161@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>I’ve been concerned about my 4 y/o gaining weight recently, mainly because her eating habits aren’t great and she hasn’t been getting as much physical activity due to the pandemic. </p> <p>I know we need to make some changes (regardless of her weight), but I was quite shocked when a BMI calculator<br /> for kids said she was “obese”. </p> <p>Then earlier today I read a thread about BMI in a Facebook group I belong to, and many people commented that BMI isn’t accurate or appropriate in terms of determining if a child‘s weight is healthy. I wanted to ask for more info in the group, but it isn’t nearly the safe/respectful community that this is and I didn’t want to start a debate. </p> <p>I will certainly discuss this with our doctor once we can finally get an appointment again, but was wondering if anyone has any insight into how concerned I should be about her (supposed) BMI at this stage. </p>