Question:
Is there a way to find out BMI for children?

My son is almost 9, is around 4'10" +/- and weighs over 130 lbs. I am upset that he is so big and it is hard for me to judge his size since I myself am morbidly obese (and hoping to have surgery) and basically all his immediate family is obese to some extent. The BMI calculator says he is overweight, but I know he is obese for a child his age. I can't even go into a store and buy him a pair of jeans without having to go to the 18 husky, then have to have them altered to fit his height because they are nearly 6" too long! I want him to loose weight and try to inform him that he doesn't really want to be like his GrandDad and everyone else in the family because it will cause problems as a child growing up big (thanks to many wonderful childish pranks) and the possibilities of medical problems as a young person to even early adulthood! I am hoping that if I get a chance to have surgery and alter my lifestyle that he will follow, but I am not sure that will happen. Is there any way to find out his "TRUE" BMI for his age at the weight and height he is...and if possible...would he be considered a candidate for the banding procedure?    — Crystal C. (posted on January 23, 2002)

January 23, 2002
I'm not sure if you can use the BMI calculator on a child. If it wasn't this website it was my surgeon's that said that BMI can not be use for children. (I was trying to check my nieces)
   — Elizabeth A.

January 23, 2002
He is WAY too young for any WLS. The best thing you can do for him is have this yourself. Then don't keep 'junk' food in the house. If you prepare and serve healthful meals, that will help. The other thing is that when you have lost some weight and are able to exercise, get him involved with you. Ride bikes, learn to rollreblade, go swimming together, go for a walk with him. Most kids want more time with their parents more than almost anything else. It'll be good for both of you. Good luck.
   — [Anonymous]

January 23, 2002
Hi, I would like to respond to your question concerning your child being a candidate for weight loss surgery. First of all, of course you know your son better than any of us and are in a better position to make that kind of decision. However, I just wanted to give you maybe a different perspective on growing up with obesity. I'm 22 years old, 6 months post-op and I now weigh 175, although I started at 264. I think that so much of who I am has come from growing up "different" from the norms of society. I think there is a certain empathy and ability to care for other's that comes from growing up different. Granted, it is difficult and kids make fun and walking and running are hard on the body. It may sound nuts but I think that having that experience was one of the greatest gifts in my life and I would never go back and change that. When I was 13 or 14 and weighed 100 pounds more than my classmates, it was hell and I know you see that as a mother and as someone who has probably experienced the same ridicule and health difficulties. It's hard for you to stand by and watch that. I guess all I'm trying to say is that it took a lot of work for me to accept myself just as I was and only after acceptance would I condsider wls. I just wanted to give you something to think about. I don't have kids and I don't know what decision I would make in this case if I did, but I do know this: make sure that your son knows he is amazing and miraculous no matter how much he weighs. This is the greatest gift you can give him at this point in his life when his appearance may start to become a problem in social situations. Be sure to reinforce healthy lifestyle habits but I have learned from having the surgery myself that it ultimately has to be his decision to make changes and wls WILL NOT work in the long run unless he is committed and I'm just not sure that 9 is old enough to understand the profundity of that type of decision.
   — Angelia M.

January 23, 2002
I have a 7 year old who I know is overweight, but I also realize that it is partly my fault due to the not so healthy eating, and lack of exercise. Of course she would be overweight, I mean, the same thing got ME to this point. However, the thought of WLS for her doesn't even cross my mind. I will be having surgery in October, and see that as a prime oportunity for my entire family to get on the health wagon. I have every intention of taking her on my nightly walks, and yoga classes, and aerobic classes. Even if she does continue to eat the same foods she does now, at least the exercise will be added in, and if nothing else her weight can be maintained, if not lossed, and that in itself will be healthier for her. I don't think that you should even think about the extremes of weight loss surgery for a child. It would make we wonder seriously about a doctor that would consider it if you COULD find one. WLS should be used as a last resort for anyone, the same way it is for us. Children do what they see. If he sees you eating unhealthily and not exercise, then he's bound to follow your lead.
   — [Anonymous]

January 23, 2002
I have a nine year old who is overweight too. Not as significantly but since I started talking about the surgery and had it (I'm 7 days postop) I no longer have to argue about vegetables ect. She has become much more health counsious and exercises a lot too. She said she doesn't want to have to have surgery when she grow's up. She see's how much pain I am in right now as I heal and that has been an effective tool. I hope my daughter will never have to go through this even as an adult. I can't imagine any doctor ever performing this on a child. The only exception I could see is a 16 year old or older who weighs an extra 200+ pounds. Nine is a great learning age and they have a lot of faith in parents so hopefully you can educate and model for your child.
   — Candace F.

January 25, 2002
Growing up a girl, you'll probably have to take my experiences with a grain of salt cuz the same may not be true for boys. Anyways, here goes:<p> I think that at the tender age of 8 or 9 there are two things you can do. One is that you still have SOME kind of control over what goes in his mouth--something you may not have control over for much longer. Use that time to help him learn about healthy eating habits, helped of course by the fact that you will have to adopt those after surgery and can model those as well as preach them. I know I didn't have a clue as to healthy eating other than the 4 food groups which you notice fell by the wayside. I grew up binge eating with my dad--that was the time we spent together. Why not start the healthy eating now before surgery? It sure can't hurt and maybe he won't connect your healthy eating to the surgery--like it was something you were made to do and that isn't possible to achieve on your own.<p>The other thing is physical activity. I can't quite pinpoint when I got left behind but I reached a point where I physically couldn't do the things required in PE class and it was extremely embarrassing. I used ANY excuse to get out of PE and thus fell further and further behind. Maybe someone could work with him to get him up to speed physically and then it would be easier for him to participate in fitness activities. I am thinking something like the YMCA or church, where you may be able to find someone low cost that could help him learn the basics. I know that once I decided I was going to learn how to lift weights, it was much easier when my body learned how to get in and out of the machines and how to use proper form. I made a complete fool of myself getting stuck in machines until I got the basics down. Whether it's baseball, basketball, biking, WHATEVER . . . The key is to find something he enjoys and find someone who can help him achieve the basics comfortably. After that he will hopefully be confident enough to progress on his own.<p>A side note to my own story: I was always so mortified when they made you take the fitness tests in school and I was always the ONLY ONE who could not do even one situp because they wouldn't let anyone hold your feet. Even after I was working out, I couldn't do it. I started doing yoga and pilates and guess what? I can now pull myself up! YEAH!<p>My heart goes out to you and your son. I hope he doesn't get left behind like I did. I hope you have great success with whatever you try so that when I come back asking for advice with my daughter in a couple of years, you can give me some good "been-there-done-that" advice! =)
   — ctyst

January 25, 2002
Sure. Right here. http://www.keepkidshealthy.com/welcome/bmicalculator.html
   — [Deactivated Member]