Overweight in children

Whether a child is overweight isn't decided by how they look or by the adult BMI, but by the percentile chart at the paediatrician's. A BMI above the 90th percentile counts as overweight, above the 97th as obesity. According to the KiGGS study by the Robert Koch Institute (survey 2014–2017), around 15% of 3- to 17-year-olds in Germany are overweight and just under 6% have obesity. So your child isn't alone – and it's not your fault.

For children, the goal is rarely weight loss. If a child is overweight, it's usually enough to keep their weight stable while they grow – their BMI then falls by itself. Only in the case of obesity, and only with medical supervision, can slow weight loss make sense. Calorie counting, diets and bans have no place in childhood: they can disrupt growth, turn eating into a battle and increase the risk of eating disorders.

What helps is manageable and involves the whole family: water instead of sugary drinks, shared meals without screens, daily activity that's fun, enough sleep, limited screen time, vegetables with every meal and sweets that are planned rather than eaten in secret. The guideline of the German Working Group on Obesity in Childhood and Adolescence (AGA) focuses on diet, exercise and behaviour – and on involving the whole family instead of focusing only on the child.

Language matters: no child should hear at the table that they're “too fat” or that they “can't have that because …”. Talk about strength, stamina, sleep and fun – not about weight. It's best to leave weighing to the paediatrician; a set of scales in the bathroom can quickly make weight a constant topic. And watch out for teasing at school and in clubs – it can do more harm than any kilo.

Asking for help is a strength: paediatricians, nutrition counselling and certified training programmes for families are there for you – ask about them at the practice. The earlier, the easier, and the more loving the approach, the better it works.