BMI Education Resource

This professional development resource aims to assist Maternal and Child Health Nurses in tackling the risk of overweight in young children. This resource is particularly pertinent in light of the increasing epidemic of childhood overweight and obesity and the addition of the BMI-for-age growth charts in the Child Health Record.

Topics covered are:

• The Importance of BMI - Prevalence and health and social risks of childhood overweight and obesity, and an introduction to the importance and limitations of a BMI calculation.
• Weighing and Measuring a Child - Procedures, equipment and frequency needed to accurately measure a child's BMI.
• Calculating and Plotting BMI - Understanding, calculating, plotting and interpreting BMI.
• Advice to Promote a Healthy BMI - Growth patterns, health eating principles and activity guidelines and suggestions.
• How to Discuss BMI with Parents - Appropriate and sensitive ways to broach the subject of a child's weight, and discussing healthy eating and physical activity.