Health Tips

1. When is a child considered obese and Level Chart of Body Fat Percentages for children ages (7 to 12) and teens ages (13-19)?

For Children ( ages 6 to 12 ) and Teenagers( ages 13 to 19 ), we must define what Obesity is and when do they reach that condition. Firstly, we must understand that Obesity is defined as “ an excessive accumulation of body fat “. The total body weight is composed of Lean Body Mass (that is, water, bones, collagen and muscle) and Fat Mass. Secondly, in order to understand the present body fat status of your child or teenager, please refer to the following “ Body Fat Percentage Chart ” that I’ve prepared with information provided by Tanita Ltd., and which classifies him/her by age and gender, from ages 7 to 19, under four levels : Underfat, Healthy, Overfat or Obese.

Look for the answer in the following level chart:

CHILDREN AND ADOLESCENTS’ BODY FAT PERCENTAGE (%) LEVELS

FEMALES (%)

Age   Underfat  Healthy   Overfat  Obese
 7      0-14.9    15-24.9  25-28.9   29+
 8      0-14.9    15-25.9  26-29.9   30+
 9      0-15.9    16-26.9  27-30.9   31+
10      0-15.9    16-27.9  28-31.9   32+
11      0-15.9    16-28.9  29-32.9   33+
12      0-15.9    16-28.9  29-32.9   33+
13      0-15.9    16-28.9  29-32.9   33+
14      0-15.9    16-29.9  30-33.9   34+
15      0-15.9    16-29.9  30-33.9   34+
16      0-15.9    16-29.9  30-33.9   34+
17      0-15.9    16-29.9  30-34.9   35+
18      0-16.9    17-30.9  31-35.9   36+
19      0-18.9    19-31.9  32-36.9   37+

MALES (%)

Age  Underfat  Healthy   Overfat  Obese
 7     0-12.9    13-19.9  20-24.9   25+
 8     0-12.9    13-20.9  21-25.9   26+
 9     0-12.9    13-21.9  22-26.9   27+
10     0-12.9    13-22.9  23-27.9   28+
11     0-12.9    13-22.9  23-27.9   28+
12     0-12.9    13-22.9  23-27.9   28+
13     0-11.9    12-21.9  22-26.9   27+
14     0-11.9    12-20.9  21-25.9   26+
15     0-10.9    11-20.9  21-23.9   24+
16     0-9.9     10-19.9  20-23.9   24+
17     0-9.9     10-19.9  20-23.9   24+
18     0-9.9     10-19.9  20-23.9   24+
19     0-8.9      9-19.9  20-23.9   24+

2. How do we accurately measure Body Fat ?

BMI (Body Mass Index), which is the proportion of a person’s Weight to Height is, must definitely, NOT an accurate measurement of Body Fat. To simply confirm this, note that an individual with a lot of muscle is erroneously classified as “Obese” by BMI rules. Remember that Muscle weighs twice as much as Fat, but only occupies one-fifth (20%) of the body space. A fat person floats when in the water, while the skinny one sinks. On the other hand, measuring a child’s Body Fat must be done on a scale that utilizes the BIA (Body Impedance Analysis) method, as this is presently the most accurate form of obtaining the correct information. Purchasing a Tanita (brand) Body Composition Analyzer scale for this purpose will be a wise decision.

3. What is the BIA (Body Impedance Analysis) method of measuring Body Fat?

This easy, body composition measurement method has become very popular and widely accepted by medical and fitness experts. You step barefoot on the BIA scale, and the equipment safely passes a low-level electrical signal through your body. Body fat percentage (and total fat mass) is then calculated, based on the amount of impedance (obstruction) as the current flows from one point to another. The signal passes much faster through LBM (Lean Body Mass) than Fat, because muscle contains 70 to 75 % of the body’s water (while fat contains almost no water). This BIA method is very consistent, especially if you wait 3 hours after eating or exercise before the measurement.

4. Which are the lifestyle and dietary elements most directly responsible for making a child or teen gain those extra pounds of Fat?

A sedentary (almost totally devoid of physical activity) lifestyle and a daily overeating routine that indulges in high-glycemic carbohydrates, found in sugary and/or starchy foods, and the consumption of excess protein above his / her daily physical requirements, most definitely will make your Child or Teenager to increase in Body Fat. Ironically, even when during the last 25 years the average American diet has decreased in the amount of fat consumed, the incidence and prevalence of Obesity is at its peak today. The culprit of this situation is the fact that people, especially children and teens, are replacing good protein and good fats with high-density carbo-hydrates, like those found in sugary and starchy foods ; these are fattening calories empty of nutrition, and which in turn promote hunger cravings.

Eating fat does not make a child fat. It’s his/her response to excess carbohydrates in the diet that makes them fat. Our body has limited capacity to store excess carbohydrates, but it can easily convert those excess carbohydrates into excess body fat. Therefore, a diet primarily comprised of carbohydrates like; breads, cereals, pastas, donuts, pastries, starchy vegtables (e.g. potatoes, corn), fruit juices, and sodas sweetened with high fructose corn syrup- will definitely fatten him/her and load them slowly but surely to adverse health problems that will definitely ruin their lives. Such an eating pattern will generate a constant biochecmical reaction in the body-insulin upsurge- which if left uncontrolled, will pave the way for the condition called metabolic syndrome (or Syndrome X) which is the name given to a group of health problems that often result in heart disease and diabetes.