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Weight & Health

 

Dear Mrs. Figgins:

We’re 14 years old and we live in Louisiana.  My brother and I are twins. We’re not overweight but my father and mother are.  We could be next.

They don’t exercise.  My dad has breathing problems, and my mom was just told she could develop diabetes someday.  There’s always a lot of junk food around the house

Our parents know they have to change their lifestyle.  As a New Year’s resolution, they promise to start walking a little each day and eat better.

One of my teachers told me about a chart that has to do with weight and height.  Do you know what that is?

We love my parents very much and want to help them.

Alyssa and Caleb

  

Dear Alyssa and Caleb:

I applaud you for caring about your parent’s health and wanting to help them.  Depending on how overweight your parents are, walking each day and a change in eating habits may be the beginning of a major life change for them.  Encourage them to stick with it.

1. Start with small steps.

2. Ask your parents to talk with your doctor first.  Your doctor can help you with healthy changes in your diet.

3. Learn about foods.  Knowledge is power, and the right knowledge can lead you to a healthier body!

4. Set meal schedules.  When you eat in a hurry and at odd times of day, you probably eat foods that are unhealthy, such as fast foods.

5. Get unhealthy food  out of your house.   Replace junk foods with an apple, an orange, a banana, or other fresh fruits, and fresh vegetables such as raw carrots, celery, radishes, and so on.  Snack on these.

6. Carry through with your plan for healthy eating; otherwise your effort will be lost.

You and your brother should follow healthy eating and physical activity habits to help prevent weight gain and keep you healthy over the years, even if you do not need to lose weight.

Health experts agree that you may gain health benefits from even a small weight loss if:

• You are considered obese based on your body mass index (BMI) (see BMI chart below).

• You are considered overweight based on your BMI and have weight-related health problems or a family history of such problems.

• You have a waist that measures more than 40 inches if you are a man or more than 35 inches if you are a woman.

A weight loss of 5 to 7 percent of body weight may improve your health and quality of life, and it may prevent weight-related health problems, like type 2 diabetes. For a person who weighs 200 pounds, this means losing 10 to 14 pounds.
 Body Mass Index (BMI):

BMI is a tool that is often used to determine whether a person’s health is at risk due to his or her weight. It is a ratio of your weight to your height.

A BMI of 18.5 to 24.9 is considered healthy, a BMI of 25 to 29.9 is considered overweight, and a BMI of 30 or more is considered obese. You can find your BMI using the chart below, and you can also see the weight range that is healthy for your height.

BMI  19  20 21 22 23 24 25 26 27 28 29 30 31 32 33 34 35 36 37 38 39 40 Weight (Pounds) Height (Inches)                                             58 91 96 100 105 110 115 119 124 129 134 138 143 148 153 158 162 167 172 177 181 186 191 59 94 99 104 109 114 119 124 128 133 138 143 148 153 158 163 168 173 178 183 188 193 198 60 97 102 107 112 118 123 128 133 138 143 148 153 158 163 168 174 179 184 189 194 199 204 61 100 106 111 116 122 127 132 137 143 148 153 158 164 169 174 180 185 190 195 201 206 211 62 104 109 115 120 126 131 136 142 147 153 158 164 169 175 180 186 191 196 202 207 213 218 63 107 113 118 124 130 135 141 146 152 158 163 169 175 180 186 191 197 203 208 214 220 225 64 110 116 122 128 134 140 145 151 157 163 169 174 180 186 192 197 204 209 215 221 227 232 65 114 120 126 132 138 144 150 156 162 168 174 180 186 192 198 204 210 216 222 228 234 240 66 118 124 130 136 142 148 155 161 167 173 179 186 192 198 204 210 216 223 229 235 241 247 67 121 127 134 140 146 153 159 166 172 178 185 191 198 204 211 217 223 230 236 242 249 255 68 125 131 138 144 151 158 164 171 177 184 190 197 204 210 216 223 230 236 243 249 256 262 69 128 135 142 149 155 162 169 176 182 189 196 203 210 216 223 230 236 243 250 257 263 270 70 132 139 146 153 160 167 174 181 188 195 202 209 216 222 229 236 243 250 257 264 271 278 71 136 143 150 157 165 172 179 186 193 200 208 215 222 229 236 243 250 257 265 272 279 286 72 140 147 154 162 169 177 184 191 199 206 213 221 228 235 242 250 258 265 272 279 287 294 73 144 151 159 166 174 182 189 197 204 212 219 227 235 242 250 257 265 272 280 288 295 302 74 148 155 163 171 179 186 194 202 210 218 225 233 241 249 256 264 272 280 287 295 303 311 75 152 160 168 176 184 192 200 208 216 224 232 240 248 256 264 272 279 287 295 303 311 319 76 156 164 172 180 189 197 205 213 221 230 238 246 254 263 271 279 287 295 304 312 320 328

Source: Clinical Guidelines on the Identification, Evaluation, and Treatment of Overweight and Obesity in Adults, National Institutes of Health, National Heart, Lung, and Blood Institute. 

May this coming year bring health and happiness to your family.

Mrs. Figgins

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