Maintaining a healthy weight
What is a healthy weight for a child?
Parents may find it difficult to tell whether their child has temporary “puppy fat” or is genuinely overweight. In adults, a simple formula (the body mass index or BMI) is used to work out whether a person is the right weight for their height.
However, BMI alone is not an appropriate measure for children – it has to be used alongside charts that take into account the child’s rate of growth, sex and age – and is best interpreted with the help of your GP, health visitor, practice nurse or dietician (See Charts Attached).
Obesity is defined as an excessive accumulation of body fat. Obesity is present when total body weight is more than 25 percent fat in boys and more than 32 percent fat in girls.
A trained technician may obtain skinfold measures relatively easily in either a school or clinical setting. The triceps alone, triceps and subscapular, triceps and calf, and calf alone have been used with children and adolescents. Example, when the triceps and calf are used, a sum of skinfolds of 10-25mm is considered optimal for boys, and 16-30mm is optimal for girls.
Share:
Was this article helpful?
Share:
Was this article helpful?
Health Packages
Elevate your health with tailored health packages at Columbia Asia Hospital. Take charge of your health journey today.
Puchong
Exclusive Maternity Offer
Iskandar Puteri
Ear, Nose & Throat Screening Package
Cheras
HPV Vaccine Package
Iskandar Puteri
Mother’s Day Screening Packages
Taiping
Total Knee Replacement Package
Tebrau
Wellman Premier Screening (by Physician)
Puchong
Health & Fitness Package
Tebrau
Influenza Vaccine Promotion
Petaling Jaya
Antenatal Checkup Package
Cheras
Wellness Package – C-Cancer Female
Puchong
Comprehensive Health Screening
Tebrau
Cataract Treatment Package
Petaling Jaya
Shingles Vaccination
Puchong
Dietitian Package
Taiping
Weight Loss Diet Plan
Tebrau
Wellwoman Premier Screening (by Physician)
Shah Alam
10-Day Neuro Recovery Package
Tebrau
Hepatitis B Vaccination Package
Petaling Jaya
Endoscopy Package
Taiping
Basic Dietary Consultation Package
Petaling Jaya
Flu & Pneumococcal Vaccination Combo Package
Bukit Rimau
HPV Vaccination Package
Klang
Cataract Surgery Package
Iskandar Puteri
Golden Age Health Screening Package
Petaling Jaya
Typhoid Vaccination Package
Puchong
Blood Profile and Cancer Screening
Iskandar Puteri
Colorectal Cancer Screening Package
Taiping
Health Screening Packages (Specialist)
Batu Kawan
Heart Screening Packages
Puchong
Physiotherapy Treatment Package
Seremban
Antenatal Check Up Package
Cheras
Fetal Detailed Scan Package
Seremban
Allergy Test Package
Batu Kawan
Dietitian Package
Klang
HPV Vaccination Package
Klang
Wellness Package
Batu Kawan
Dengue Protection
Cheras
Wellness Package – Essential
Puchong
Cardiac Package
Batu Kawan
Little Tots Protection Trio
Bukit Rimau
Post-Op Physiotherapy Package
Seremban
HPV Vaccination
Batu Kawan
Maternity Packages
Petaling Jaya
Influenza Vaccination Package
Puchong
Influenza Vaccine
Tebrau
Renal Screening Package
Taiping
Pregnancy Vaccination Package
Klang
Premier Male Screening Package
Bukit Jalil
Influenza Vaccine Package
Cheras
Dengue Vaccination Package
Setapak
Physiotherapy Assessment & Treatment Package
Iskandar Puteri
Health Screening Packages
Seremban
Essential Health Screening Package
Puchong
Basic Health Screening Package
Seremban
Yellow Fever Vaccination Promotion
Tebrau
Total Knee Replacement Package
Petaling Jaya
Cardiac Screening Package
Puchong
Basic Health Screening Package
Tebrau
Executive Screening (by Physician)
Seremban
Maternity Package
Iskandar Puteri
Robotic-Assisted Knee Replacement Surgery Package
Iskandar Puteri
Shingles Vaccine
Petaling Jaya
Parent’s Day Health Screening Package
Bukit Jalil
Dengue Vaccination Package
Batu Kawan
Total Hip Replacement Package
Seremban
Detailed Scan Package
Batu Kawan
Lung Screening Package
Bukit Jalil
Health Screening Package
Bukit Rimau
Postnatal Package
Petaling Jaya
Basic Screening Package (Medical Officer)
Bukit Rimau
Health Screening Packages
Iskandar Puteri
Cardiac Screening Package
Cheras
YAG Laser Package
Cheras
Welcome to College Package
Cheras
Cervical Cancer Screening Package
Pink October 2024
Batu Kawan
AV Fistula Surgery Package
Bukit Jalil
Liver Care Screening Package
Batu Kawan
Transform X Package
Cheras
Maternity Package
Tebrau
CT Coronary Angiography Package
Tebrau
Dengue Vaccination Package
Bukit Rimau
Hepatitis B Vaccination Packages
Petaling Jaya
Maternity Promotion
Iskandar Puteri
Delivery Package
AIA Policyholders Self-pay Benefits
Tebrau
Hajj & Umrah Vaccination Package
Puchong
Women Screening Packages
Bukit Rimau
Maternity Package
Tebrau
Wellwoman Basic Screening (by Gynecologist)
Cheras
Neuro Management Physiotherapy Package
Bukit Jalil
Endoscopy Packages
Bukit Jalil
Kids Vaccination Package
Tebrau
Pre-University Screening Promotion
Batu Kawan
Endoscopy Screening Package
Tebrau
Wellwoman Executive Screening (by Physician & Gynecologist)
Cheras
Frozen Shoulder Treatment Package
Taiping
Knee Pain Relief Treatment
Cheras
Prenatal Vaccine Package
Cheras
Argon Laser Treatment
Bukit Rimau
Endoscopy Screening Package
Cheras
Wellness Package – C-Cardiac Plus Female
Puchong
Shingles Vaccine Package
Shah Alam
Outpatient Rehabilitation Package
Petaling Jaya
Basic Screening Package (Specialist)
Tebrau
Cosmetic Gynecology Package
Puchong
Hajj & Umrah Vaccination
Pink October 2025
Seremban
Executive Health Screening Package
Iskandar Puteri
Pre-Employment Screening Package
Cheras
Bell’s Palsy Package
Bukit Jalil
Women’s Wellness
Puchong
Chemical Peeling Package
Taiping
Women Wellness Packages
Bukit Jalil
HPV Vaccination Package
Cheras
Low Dose CT Scan Package
Cheras
Cataract Surgery Package
Iskandar Puteri
Prostate Screening Package
Seremban
Dengue Fever Vaccination
Taiping
Breast Clinical Examination
Bukit Jalil
Basic Physiotherapy Package
Bukit Jalil
Cataract Surgery Package
Bukit Rimau
Cardiac Rehab Package
Taiping
Endoscopy Screening Package
Bukit Rimau
Pterygium Surgery Package
Puchong
Lung Screening Package
Taiping
Heart Screening Packages
Bukit Rimau
Silver Strength Therapy Package
Bukit Jalil
Maternity Package
Cheras
Diet Consultation Package
Bukit Rimau
Baby Vaccination Package
Cheras
Mother’s Day Packages
Cheras
Cardiac Screening Package
Cheras
Thyroid Screening Package
Tebrau
Standard Screening (by Physician)
Klang
Premier Female Screening Package
Tebrau
Heart Screening Package
Puchong
Comprehensive Eye Packages
Bukit Rimau
Love Your Heart Screening Packages
Bukit Rimau
Maternity Vaccination Package
Tebrau
Thyroid Screening Package
HLA Policyholders Promo: Influenza Vaccination
Cheras
Influenza Vaccine Promotion
Petaling Jaya
HPV Vaccination Package
Bukit Jalil
Fetal Detailed Scan Package
Setapak
Premier Screening Package
Cheras
Total Knee Replacement Package
Klang
Pre-marital Screening Package
Batu Kawan
Laser Haemorrhoidectomy Surgery Package
Batu Kawan
Total Knee Replacement Package
Iskandar Puteri
Pre-University Screening Package
Taiping
Normal Delivery Package
Batu Kawan
Safe Travel For Kids (Starter Pack and Booster Pack)
Taiping
Caesarean Package
Batu Kawan
Cardio Max Heart Screening Package
Cheras
Digital Mammogram Package
Iskandar Puteri
Dietetic Service Package
Bukit Rimau
Incontinence Physiotherapy Program
Petaling Jaya
Maternity Package
Iskandar Puteri
Wellman Premier Screening Package
Cheras
Wellness Package – C-Cancer Male
Bukit Jalil
Physiotherapy Stroke Package
Petaling Jaya
Dietetic Service Packages
Bukit Rimau
Sports Package
Cheras
Kidney Screening Package
Cheras
Pain Relief Package
Shah Alam
30-Day Neuro Recovery Package
Shah Alam
Orthopedic Recovery Package
Klang
Delivery Packages
Taiping
Children Influenza Vaccination
Klang
Scope Packages
Bukit Jalil
Brain Health Screening
Iskandar Puteri
Influenza Vaccination Package
Bukit Jalil
Heart Health Screening Package
Klang
Baby Vaccination Package
Klang
Pre-Employment Screening Packages
Cheras
Comprehensive Cardiac Screening Package
Tebrau
Women Wellness Package
Batu Kawan
School Shield Vaccination Package
Iskandar Puteri
Umrah & Hajj Vaccination Package
Petaling Jaya
Comprehensive Screening (Specialist)
Klang
Heart Screening Packages
Petaling Jaya
Preferred Screening
Bukit Rimau
Basic Dietary Package
Cheras
Kids Vaccination Package
Petaling Jaya
Robotic Total Knee Replacement Package
Seremban
Occupational Health Screening / Medical Surveillance
Iskandar Puteri
Care For Your Heart Screening Package
Batu Kawan
PhysioCare Package
Seremban
Vaccination for Expecting Moms
Iskandar Puteri
Cervical Cancer Screening Package
Tebrau
Basic Screening Package
Petaling Jaya
The Hajj Packages
Seremban
Comprehensive Maternal Fetal Medicine Package
Petaling Jaya
Pre-Employment Screening Package
Petaling Jaya
Dengue Vaccination Package
Seremban
Baby Vaccination Package
Iskandar Puteri
Sports Rehab Laser Package
Bukit Rimau
Back or Neck Physiotherapy Package
Bukit Jalil
Allergy Screening Package
Tebrau
Liver Screening Package
Seremban
Preferred Health Screening Package
Batu Kawan
Health Screening Packages
Taiping
Influenza Vaccination
Taiping
Health Screening Packages (Medical Officer)
Setapak
Basic Screening Package
Setapak
Executive Screening Package
Cheras
Wellness Package – C-Cardiac Plus Male
Seremban
Influenza Vaccine
Petaling Jaya
Pre-Marital Screening Package
Columbia Asia 30th Anniversary Promotion “Senior Health”
Taiping