Ms. Mary Silva
Specializing in feeding and nutrition.
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 Ask Mary Silva
Healthy Weight for a Nine-Year-Old | | | QUESTION | | | Dear Ms. Silva,
My daughter is nine years old and weighs 106 pounds. What is the accurate weight for a nine-year-old who is about 4 ½ feet tall and who is not very active? At the age of about six, her pediatrician put her on oral steroids for 12 days due to recurring bronchitis. Could these steroids be the reason for her constant heavy weight and will there be long-term consequences from taking steroids at such a young age? What do you recommend to help my daughter stay healthy and within her weight range? Thanks so much.— Maria Elena in Brownsville, TX | | | ANSWER |
August 17, 2001 | | | Dear Maria Elena,
The average weight of a girl your daughter's age and height is approximately 57 pounds. Her body mass index (BMI) is 25.6, which indicates that she is overweight, however, it doesn't take into account the amount of muscle that she has. The goal for her would be to slow down weight gain instead of trying to lose weight. Over time, she can grow to the point where her weight is proportionate to her height.
Although steroids do affect body weight, it is unlikely that her having taking a steroidal medication for two weeks has had a long-term effect. It's more likely that her inactivity is affecting her body weight. Increasing her activity level will help her achieve and maintain a healthy weight. You can talk to your pediatrician about which activities she can participate in and at what intensity.
In the meantime, providing a diet that includes a variety of foods including lots of vegetables and fruit will help. You can avoid extra calories by not eating many fried foods or at least serving only small portion of them. You also might consider using low fat dairy products and limiting juice and sweet beverages.— by Mary Silva, M.S., R.D. |
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