It is common for parents to worry about their children’s weight. While there is no exact value for a 7 year old child's weight, you can refer to general weight ranges that vary, depending on the gender and height.
How Much Should a 7 Year Old Weigh?
1. Weight Range
To check if your child has a normal weight, you can refer to the growth chart from CDC (Centers for Disease Control and Prevention). The chart provides weight ranges for children aged between 2-20 based on their sex and height.
According to the chart, a 7 year old boy has a normal weight if he weighs from 41 to 68 pounds, and a 7 year old girl has a normal weight if she weighs from 40 to 69 pounds.
2. Body Mass Index
BMI takes the height of the child into account, thus providing a more comprehensive look into the normal weight. CDC also has a BMI chart for children.
According to the chart, a 7 years old boy's weight is normal if his BMI ranges from 12.7 to 17.4, and a 7 years old girl's weight is normal if her BMI ranges from 13.5 to 17.6.
Note
How much should a 7 year old weigh? Now you know the answer, and it is important to remember that every child is different when it comes to healthy weight ranges. Always communicate with your child’s health care provider if you have any doubts or concerns, and follow the doctor's advice to help your child get normal weights.
What to Do If Your Child Is Obese?
1. Set Achievable Goals for Your Child
If your child is still growing, then you can take advantage of that and look to maintain the current weight rather than lose it. This is more achievable and the gain in height will help even things out on its own. You can also set a easy goal such as losing 1 pound for a week; this is attainable and will not put too much pressure on your child.
2. Encourage Your Child to Exercise
Encouraging physical exercises such as jogging, playing football, swimming or simply taking the stairs can help a lot. Your child will burn calories and develop social skills at the same time.
3. Make Healthy Eating Choices
Help your child to form healthy eating habits. Include whole foods and fruits into the diet rather than preparing pre-processed foods or fruit juices that are filled with unnecessary sugar. Look for low-fat alternatives like skim milk and yogurt to make meals for your child.
4. Encourage Your Child by a Reward System
How much should a 7 year old weigh? Now you know the answer, and if your child is obese, maybe you should consider a reward system to encourage your child to keep on his or her healthy habits.
Rewarding your child with small gifts every time he or she makes good eating choices; do not reward your child with foods.
5. Work with Your Pediatrician
Take your child for regular weight and blood check, and make sure the situation is well monitored by your pediatrician. Work with the pediatrician to find out the most suitable method for your child to lose weight.
What to Do If Your Child Is Underweight?
How much should a 7 year old weigh and what to do if your child is underweight? Being underweight indicates that there is a deficiency in the amount of nutrients being absorbed by the body; it can have damaging effects on the physical, mental and emotional development of the child. Therefore, it is important that you take appropriate methods to deal with this situation.
- You should help the child gain weight by including foods that are nutrient-rich and are not just full of empty calories. Good protein, carbohydrates and fats are needed. Excellent sources of proteins include eggs, full-fat milk, peanut butter, hummus and cheese; carbohydrates can be provided through eating whole wheat bread, pasta and potatoes; and avocados, nuts and seeds are very rich in dietary fats. These will help your child gain weight in a healthy way.
- You also need to make sure that your child is not filling up with water, juices or other drinks during meal times, since that will leave less room for the food.
- Talk to your child’s pediatrician and make sure that there is no underlying medical conditions that cause your child to be underweight.