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Healthy Weight (Nutrition and Active Lifestyle)

Make an Appointment


  • Follow-up appointments can be scheduled through MyChart.
  • New patients should call our Scheduling Department at 303-699-6200.
  • If you have questions about your child’s weight, nutrition, or fitness level, we encourage you to speak with one of our providers at your child’s next well visit or call 303-699-6200 to schedule an appointment.


Supporting a Healthy Lifestyle


Good nutrition and regular physical activity are essential to keeping children healthy. Our goal is to help families raise happy, confident eaters and encourage active, balanced lifestyles.

Maintaining a healthy weight in childhood is important not only for how a child looks and feels today, but also for their long-term health. Children who are overweight are at increased risk for developing health concerns that can continue into adulthood.

These may include:

  • High cholesterol
  • High blood pressure
  • Type 2 diabetes
  • Sleep apnea
  • Liver disease
  • Orthopedic (bone and joint) problems
  • Gallbladder disease
  • Polycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS) in girls
  • Low self-esteem, anxiety, or depression



Adolescents who are overweight have a significantly higher chance of becoming overweight or obese adults, increasing their risk for heart disease, diabetes, high blood pressure, and certain cancers later in life.

We are here to partner with you in supporting your child’s growth, nutrition, and activity goals. Small, sustainable changes can make a meaningful difference in lifelong health.

  • Healthy Weight (Nutrition and Active Lifestyle) Diagnosis & Management

    How We Identify Healthy Weight

    At your child's well-care exams, his or her physical development is charted and monitored through measurements for height, weight and body mass index (BMI). The BMI is a measurement that uses the relationship between height and weight to indicate body "fatness" and potential weight problems that have associated health risks.

     

    Your child's height and weight will be measured and the BMI score will be calculated using a BMI computer program. The BMI number will be charted on a special graph that allows us to track changes over the childhood years, as well as identify BMI scores that appear high or too low.

     

    You may calculate your child or teen's BMI online, by visiting the CDC's BMI Calculator. If your child or teen's BMI is in the 75th percentile or higher, please call our Nurse Line to determine if you should schedule a weight consultation appointment with one of our providers.

     

    BMI Scores and What They Mean

    • A BMI of under 75% indicates a healthy weight!
    • A BMI between 75-84% is borderline and family history risks should be evaluated
    • A BMI between 85-94% indicates a significant risk of overweight, a need for screening for other risk factors, and preventative measures such as a plan for weight maintenance
    • A BMI of 95% and over indicates overweight, a need for additional assessment for other risk and health factors, and a plan for weight maintenance or weight loss depending on the child's age

    Once your child's BMI score is calculated, your health care provider will discuss the number with you and be able to answer any questions you may have. If your child's score is high, we may advise additional lab work and make some suggestions for healthy nutrition and exercise changes you can make. 

  • Healthy Weight (Nutrition and Active Lifestyle) Treatment

    If you believe your child is overweight, we suggest you discuss this with one of our providers at your child's next well care appointment. If you would like to discuss your concerns before your child's next well care appointment is due, you may call our Nurse Line to discuss whether your child might benefit from a weight consultation appointment. In the meantime, we offer the following suggestions from the National Institutes of Health and the American Academy of Pediatrics:

     

    Be supportive. Make sure your child knows that you love and accept him or her at any weight. Listen to your child's concerns about his or her weight and offer your support, acceptance, and encouragement.

     

    Encourage healthy eating habits. Make an effort to keep a variety of healthful foods - fruits, vegetables, low-fat dairy products, whole grains, and lean meats - on hand. Practice healthful eating habits such as eating breakfast everyday, eating fast food less often, limit soda and other sweetened beverages, and healthy snacking.

     

    Encourage daily physical activity. Help your child get some exercise everyday. The American Academy of Pediatrics recommends at least 60 minutes of daily physical activity for all children 6 years and older.  When it's safe and feasible, let him or her walk to school, the store, or friends' houses. It also helps to encourage physical education in school, participation in extracurricular sports teams or classes, and to be active as a family.

     

    Discourage inactive pastimes. Limit the time your child is allowed to watch TV, play video games, and surf the internet. Instead, help your child come up with fun alternatives to watching TV.

     

    Be a positive role model. Show your child that you lead a healthy lifestyle by eating healthful foods and being physically active. This way, your child will be more likely to adopt healthy eating and exercise habits that will last a lifetime.

     

    Seek help. Your physician, local library, and local recreation or community center may offer information and programs that will help you manage your child's weight. Seek help from these resources if you need it.

  • Healthy Weight (Nutrition and Active Lifestyle) Websites

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    Fitness


    AAP Healthy Children - Fitness


    AAP Healthy Children - Sports


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  • Healthy Weight (Nutrition and Active Lifestyle) Recommended Reading

    Healthy Weight Recommended Reading


    Nutrition Recommended Reading


    Food Fights ; Winning the Nutritional Challenges of Parenthood Armed With Insight, Humor, and a Bottle of Ketchup, American Academy of Pediatrics, Laura A. Jana, MD, FAAP, and Jennifer Shu, MD, FAAP


    Kid Shape Café. Naomi Neufeld


    The Sneaky Chef. Missy Chase Lapine


    How to Get Your Child to Eat - But Not Too Much. Ellyn Satter.


    Secrets of Feeding a Healthy Family. Ellyn Satter.


    Child of Mine: Feeding with Love and Good Sense. Ellyn Satter.


    Raising a Healthy, Happy Eater: A Parent's Handbook: A Stage-by-Stage Guide to Setting Your Child on the Path to Adventurous Eating. N. Fernando, M. Potock


    How to Raise a Mindful Eater: 8 Powerful Principles for Transforming Your Child's Relationship with Food 1st Edition. M. Jacobsen


    A Parent’s Guide to Intuitive Eating: How to Raise Kids Who Love to Eat Healthy. Y. Cazorla-Lancaster DO MPH MS FAAP


    My Food Journal; Kids Food Journal - Daily Nutrition / Food Workbook: Kids Writing Journal For Daily Meals; Food Groups; Healthy Eating Kids Journal For Boys/Girls (Volume 1). Kids Journals


    NEW ME Diet Planner 90 Days Meal and Activity Tracker: Food Diary for teens girls boys. Healthy Eating Food Daily Food and Weight Loss Diary. Track ... Christmas gift. Motivation Diary.AM Project. AM Project


    Helping Your Child with Extreme Picky Eating: A Step-by-Step Guide for Overcoming Selective Eating, Food Aversion, and Feeding Disorders. K. Rowell MD, J. McGlothlin MS CCC-SLP


    Fitness Recommended Reading