Question
A parent inquires if their 10-year-old child, weighing 80 jin, may have pediatric obesity and seeks to understand the diagnostic methods for this condition.
Answer
The diagnosis of pediatric obesity is quite straightforward. First, we need to measure the child’s height and weight. Typically, we calculate a value by dividing the weight by the square of the height, known as BMI (Body Mass Index). According to growth charts, if a child’s BMI exceeds the 85th percentile of children of the same age and gender, it can be diagnosed as obesity. Most cases of obesity are simple obesity, which can be improved through dietary control and exercise. However, there are also some cases where a child’s obesity is caused by specific diseases, in which case further medical examinations are required.