My son is 6 years old, and I just got his BMI report card from school. It says he is overweight. What does that mean? What do I do now? – Amy BMI, or body mass index, is a calculation that uses height and weight to estimate how much body fat a person has. Childhood obesity is a serious problem, so many schools have added BMI to the annual health screening of their students. Some parents are uncomfortable with the idea of a BMI report card. But an overweight child has a greater chance of developing health problems, such as high blood pressure and diabetes. Parents should share the BMI information with their child's doctor, who can help interpret the results and offer advice. Here are some tips to help kids maintain a healthy weight: Encourage kids to be active every day. Experts recommend that kids get 60 minutes or more of physical activity daily. Offer fruits and vegetables at meals and snacks and encourage your child to eat five or more servings a day. Serve the right portion sizes for your child's age. Limit sugar-sweetened beverages and offer low-fat milk or water instead. Limit screen time (time spent watching TV, playing video games, using a smartphone, computer, or other device) to less than 2 hours a day. Set a good example by eating healthy, being physically active, and limiting the time you spend in front of a screen. Back to Articles Related Articles Staying at a Healthy Weight Here are some practical, everyday tips on making exercise and healthy eating work for you instead of feeling like it's the other way around. Read More Overweight and Obesity Preventing kids from becoming overweight means making choices in the way your family eats and exercises, and how you spend time together. Read More Dealing With Feelings When You're Overweight If a person is struggling with extra weight, it can add to the emotional ups and downs of being a teen. Get some tips on coping here. Read More How Much Food Should I Eat? Lots of us don't realize we're eating too much because we've become so used to large portions. This article for teens helps you take control of your plate. Read More Keeping Portions Under Control Waistlines have been expanding over the last few decades. Part of the problem is what we eat, but another is quantity. Are our plates simply piled too high? Read More Motivating Kids to Be Active Parents can help instill a love of activity and help kids make it a part of their everyday routine. Read More 5 Ways to Reach a Healthy Weight Most dieters regain the weight they lost by dieting when they go back to their old eating habits. Get our tips on the best ways to drop excess weight. Read More How Can I Feel Better About My Body? It's normal to wish you could change something about your body. Find out more about these feelings in this article for kids. Read More Your Child's Weight "What's the right weight for my child?" is one of the most common questions parents have. It seems like a simple one, but it's not always easy to answer. Read More Kids and Exercise Besides enjoying the health benefits of regular exercise, kids who are physically fit are better able to handle physical and emotional challenges. Read More Be a Fit Kid A lot of people talk about fit kids, but how do you become one? Here are five rules to live by, if you want to eat right, be active, and keep a healthy weight. Read More What's the Right Weight for My Height? One of the biggest questions guys and girls have is whether they're the right weight. Because the body is growing and changing so much during adolescence, it can be tough to answer this question. Read More Body Mass Index (BMI) One of the biggest questions guys and girls have as they grow and develop is whether they're the right weight. One place to start is by learning about body mass index, or BMI. Read More Body Mass Index (BMI) Doctors use body mass index (BMI) measurements to assess a child's physical growth in relation to other kids the same age. Here's how to calculate BMI and understand what the numbers mean. Read More Note: All information is for educational purposes only. For specific medical advice, diagnoses, and treatment, consult your doctor. © 1995-2021 KidsHealth®. All rights reserved. Images provided by The Nemours Foundation, iStock, Getty Images, Veer, Shutterstock, and Clipart.com.