by Roberta Friedman
Should we use the term “obese” when we talk about children and their weight? It’s a sensitive issue, but one that should be brought into the public arena for discussion. The Center for Disease Control (CDC) says that children whom most people would probably call overweight should be called “at risk for overweight” and those we might say are obese, should be called “overweight.” This is partly because children’s body mass index (BMI) is measured differently from adult BMI, because children’s bodies are still growing and changing. It’s also because the term “obese” can be stigmatizing and may affect self esteem.
by Roberta Friedman
Should we use the term “obese” when we talk about children and their weight? It’s a sensitive issue, but one that should be brought into the public arena for discussion. The Center for Disease Control (CDC) says that children whom most people would probably call overweight should be called “at risk for overweight” and those we might say are obese, should be called “overweight.” This is partly because children’s body mass index (BMI) is measured differently from adult BMI, because children’s bodies are still growing and changing. It’s also because the term “obese” can be stigmatizing and may affect self esteem.