- Overweight and obesity in childhood is a serious problem in Australia.
- Up to 1 in 4 school-aged children in New South Wales are overweight or obese.
- If you think your child may have a weight problem, then you should take them to be reviewed by your general practitioner (GP) or paediatrician. This will include measuring your child's height and weight and involve keeping a record of this on growth charts.
- Regular measuring of height and weight by a GP is recommended. This allows them to see any changes in their growth. Finding out where your child is on the growth charts is an important part of health
- Signs that children may have a weight problem include:
- If they wear clothes that are much larger than their age (more than 2 sizes above their age)
- If they are much bigger than the other children in their class at school.
- If they watch more than 3 hours of television each day.
- If they eat just as much, or more than, adults in the family
- If they refuse to eat a well-balanced diet with a variety of fruit and vegetables.
- If they eat takeaway food more than twice a week.
- If they get very puffed when doing physical activity.
- If they constantly say they are hungry or are always looking for food.
- If your child has some of these features, it is a good idea to take them to your GP or paediatrician for an assessment.
Remember
- Overweight and obesity is a serious problem in Australia.
- Early identification and management of overweight and obesity in childhood is more likely to prevent long term weight problems.
- Parents and carers play a key role in the management of childhood overweight and obesity.
- If you think that your child may have a weight problem, take them to your local GP or paediatrician for assessment.
- Don’t wait and think that children will “grow out of it”.