{"id":4318,"date":"2023-07-03T23:29:02","date_gmt":"2023-07-03T20:29:02","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/terveelukeskus.ee\/?p=4318"},"modified":"2024-04-26T11:35:02","modified_gmt":"2024-04-26T08:35:02","slug":"vat-on-children","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/terveelukeskus.ee\/en\/vat-on-children\/","title":{"rendered":"Body mass index (BMI) in children"},"content":{"rendered":"

What is body mass index, or BMI?<\/h2>\n

Body mass index (BMI) body mass index <\/i>(or BMI) is an indicator expressing the ratio of a person's weight to height, which is used to determine underweight, normal weight and overweight. However, when calculating body mass index, it must be taken into account that it does not measure body composition, the amount of fat tissue, individual characteristics or gender and age differences.<\/strong><\/p>\n

The formula for body mass index is: weight (kg) \/ height (m\u00b2). You can also find it on the Internet. body mass index calculators<\/a>, where you can enter your weight, height and sometimes also age and gender. Body mass index calculators allow you to find out what your body mass index is based on current data. They are cheap and simple tools for determining underweight, normal weight, overweight and obesity. The earlier you can detect overweight or underweight and provide supportive help to a child or adult, the easier and faster it will be to achieve a normal weight.<\/strong><\/p>\n

TABLE OF CONTENTS
\n<\/span> Body mass indices and weight curves for children and adolescents<\/a>
\n<\/span> Body mass index (BMI) studies among Estonian children<\/a>
\n<\/span> Calculating BMI for children and its importance<\/a>
\n<\/span> Problems related to obesity<\/a>
\n<\/span> Problems related to being underweight<\/a>
\n<\/span> How to achieve a normal body weight and a healthy body mass index in children?<\/a><\/div>\n
\n

Body mass indices and weight curves for children and adolescents<\/span><\/h2>\n

\"childWhen calculating BMI for children and young people, the effects of age and gender must be taken into account. <\/span>\u201cEstonian Nutrition and Exercise Recommendations\u201d<\/span><\/a> The appendixes of the publication contain growth curves for height and weight of children of different ages, compiled by Estonian pediatricians. Although it is most appropriate to base the assessment of normal weight of children on the weight curves compiled by Estonian pediatricians, graphs of children's body mass indices according to age and gender have also been compiled.<\/span><\/p>\n

What are the normal values for body mass index in children and young people?<\/span><\/h3>\n

In children and young people, the same values as in adults cannot be used to assess body mass index. When assessing a child's weight based on body mass index values, the growth stages of children, which affect body composition and proportions, as well as individual differences and development, must be taken into account. It is important to assess the weight dynamics or average weight gain of growing children: from the age of 3 to puberty, it is 2 kg per year and for 11\u201314 year olds, it is 5\u20136 kg per year. Stagnation in weight or greater than average weight gain requires attention and identification of the causes.<\/span><\/p>\n

Considering the above, the World Health Organization has created separate body mass index charts. <\/span>for girls <\/span><\/a>and <\/span>for boys<\/span><\/a>In addition, the Sports Medicine and Rehabilitation Clinic of the Tartu University Hospital has prepared a simplified <\/span>children's body mass index table<\/span><\/a>, where you can see the underweight and overweight values according to age:<\/span><\/p>\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n
Child's age (years)<\/b><\/td>\nBMI indicating overweight<\/b><\/td>\nBMI indicating underweight<\/b><\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
7-9<\/span><\/td>\n>19<\/span><\/td>\n<14<\/span><\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
10-12<\/span><\/td>\n>22<\/span><\/td>\n<15<\/span><\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
13-15<\/span><\/td>\n>24<\/span><\/td>\n<16<\/span><\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
16-18<\/span><\/td>\n>25<\/span><\/td>\n<17<\/span><\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<\/tbody>\n<\/table>\n

 <\/p>\n

What other tools are used to assess a child's weight?<\/span><\/h3>\n

In addition to body mass index and weight curves prepared by pediatricians, additional tools are used to assess underweight, normal weight, and overweight in children aged 2\u201318, such as measuring skinfold thickness and administering questionnaires if necessary. If a child's weight, body image, and daily eating habits may indicate an eating disorder, the following questionnaires are used:<\/span><\/p>\n