Know Your Kid's Numbers

Today's world encourages unhealthy habits, even in kids. The unfortunate consequence is that nearly half of all children are expected to be overweight by 2010.

So it's wise to be tuned-in to any worrisome weight gain in your kids. And if you feel your child is gaining too much weight, don't try to tackle the situation by yourself. Talk to your pediatrician alone, and then follow up with an appointment for your child.

Keep in mind that children's body fat levels change frequently as they grow, and differ for girls and boys. Your doctor can help you figure out if your child's body mass index (BMI) -- the gold standard for height/weight ratios -- is healthy, and will likely take the following steps to figure out the cause(s) of your child's weight gain:

• Look at your child's -- and your family's -- eating habits:Consider not only breakfast, lunch, and dinner, but also snacking, desserts, and dining out.
• Look at activity levels, too:These include all types of exercise, from sports to casual play, walks, and family activities.
• Evaluate mental and emotional health:This is essential to gauging your child's self-esteem, body image, and self-confidence, as well as considering her stress level, mood (depression), and willingness to make a change.

Once you've gone through the process together, you, your child, and your pediatrician can devise a safe plan to help guide your child to a healthy weight.