The IAA One Minute Blog

The United States Preventative Services Task Force has issued a recommendation statement which outlines the interventions that should be taken when a child or teen has a high body mass index (BMI).

Task Force Recommendations

Nearly 20 percent of kids between two and 19 years old have what are considered high BMIs, according to Centers for Disease Control and Prevention data.

While adults who have a BMI of 30 or higher are considered to have obesity, childhood obesity is determined if a child is at or above the 95^th percentile of other kids their age or gender.

The task force recommends behavioral interventions that include at least 26 hours of supervised physical activity sessions for up to a year. Additionally, the task force recommends that kids attend group sessions about healthy eating habits, how to read food labels and exercise techniques. Ideally, that would be led and guided by people of various professional backgrounds.

What is BMI?

BMI is a measurement that uses your height and weight to determine if your weight is healthy.

For children and young people aged two to 18, the BMI calculation considers age and gender as well as height and weight. If your BMI is:

• Below 18.5—you are in the underweight range
• Between 18.5 and 24.9—you are in the healthy weight range
• Between 25 and 29.9—you are in the overweight range
• 30 or over—you are in the obese range

What IAA has to Say

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