Understanding Pediatric BMI and Overall Wellness
What is Pediatric BMI and Why Was It Created?
Happy birthday!! Turning 2 years old is an exciting time. Your kiddo is starting to toddle along on their own and develop their sense of independence. This is also their well-check visit, where we switch from checking head circumference to calculating their pediatric BMI and overall wellness.
The Body Mass Index (BMI) was initially created in the early 1800s by a Belgian mathematician, not as a medical tool, but as a way to assess the “average man” for statistical purposes. It wasn’t designed to measure individual health, but rather to understand trends in body weight across large populations.
Decades later, BMI was adopted by public health officials as a simple and inexpensive way to estimate whether a population might be at risk for weight-related health issues. Its appeal lay in its simplicity: a quick calculation based on height and weight allowed governments and researchers to track obesity trends over time. It is essential to understand that this was developed as a population measure, not a tool for assessing individual pediatric BMI and overall wellness.
How Pediatric BMI is Misunderstood in Individual Health
Despite its origins, BMI has since been widely misapplied as a tool to assess individual health, leading to significant stigma. People are often categorized as “overweight” or “obese” based solely on their BMI, without taking into account muscle mass, bone density, genetics, or overall lifestyle. This misuse can perpetuate harmful stereotypes and lead to shame.
As pediatricians, we work hard to make visits as fun and joyful as possible. The last thing we would want is for a child to feel shame during their well check. Helping families understand pediatric BMI and overall wellness is key to creating a positive experience.
In many cases, individuals with higher BMIs are metabolically healthy, while those in the “normal” range might still face serious health risks. In addition, disordered eating is a very serious issue, especially among teenagers. Eating disorders have the second-highest mortality rate among all psychiatric disorders. The misrepresentation of BMI fuels a narrow view of health that equates thinness with wellness instead of considering pediatric BMI and overall wellness in a more thoughtful, holistic way.
Supporting Your Child’s Overall Wellness with Kindness
It’s important to emphasize that thinness does not equal wellness. True health is multifaceted and requires a personalized, comprehensive approach that considers physical, mental, and emotional well-being, not just a number on a chart.
At every visit, we ask: “What is one goal we want to set before our next visit to help your overall wellness?” Because at the end of the day, each child is their own beautiful person beyond a simple number, and we can all work together toward being the healthiest, happiest version of ourselves, always keeping pediatric BMI and overall wellness in mind.
For more resources about pediatric BMI and overall wellness, visit the American Academy of Pediatrics BMI learning tools.
