Can BMI (body mass index) be used to evaluate children’s weight?
Q: Are grits ever whole grain? Q: When a doctor says to “cut back on sodium” or “follow a low sodium diet,” how much sodium is allowed each day? Karen Collins, MS, RD, CDN American Institute for Cancer Research Q: Can BMI (body mass index) be used to evaluate children’s weight? A: Yes, but the BMI figure must be evaluated using age-specific graphs; children would not fall under the BMI standards used to assess adults’ weight. BMI combines height and weight into a measure that is one tool for evaluating the healthfulness of someone’s weight. Children’s “normal” body composition varies by both age and gender. According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) and the American Academy of Pediatrics, children’s BMIs must be screened using separate boys’ or girls’ BMI-for-age percentiles. For example, a 10-year-old boy with a BMI of 21 would be in the overweight category, although a BMI of 21 indicates a healthy weight for adults. Q: Are grits ever whole grain? A: Grits are m