What is the average weight of a 12-year-old boy?

What is the average weight for a 12-year old boy? This is a question that parents, educators, and health professionals are often asking. A person's body composition tends to change dramatically in the early preteen and teen years. There are two different sets of growth charts that provide answers to this question: the centers for Disease Control (CDC) growth charts and the World Health Organization (WHO) growth charts. In this blog post, we will discuss the utility and limitations of these growth charts, and talk about ways to promote a healthy weight in a 12-year-old boy.

What is the average weight of a 12-year-old boy?

The normal weight range for a 12-year-old boy is enormous and often falls between 67 and 130 pounds. That's right. A 12-year-old boy who weighs 67 pounds and a 12-year-old boy that weighs 130 pounds could both be considered normal weight. The 50%th percentile for a 12-year-old boy would is around 89 pounds. The center for disease control and prevention (CDC) growth charts for boys are here.

The average range does not tell the whole story. Boys on both ends of the weight ranges can be perfectly healthy, or may be carrying around extra weight.

Tell me the difference between weight and BMI?

Weight

Weight is simply a measure of how heavy something is. This can be measured in pounds and ounces, kilograms or stones. However, weight alone doesn't necessarily give us a good indication of how healthy we are.

Two boys with the same weight can have very different body compositions.

BMI

Because a child's weight is expected to grow in proportion to a child's height, the Body Mass Index, or BMI, can help with accessing weight in the context of height. is a way of determining whether a person is a healthy weight for their height. To calculate BMI, you take your weight in pounds and divide it by your height in inches squared. You can then use a BMI chart to see where your BMI falls. For most adults, a BMI of 18.5 to 24.9 is considered healthy. However, healthy BMI range for children changes as they grow.

BMI Percentile

Body fat and body composition change in predictable ways according to a child's age. For the most part, weight gain parallels a child's height, increasing significantly around growth spurts. Therefore, a child's BMI can be compared to other children of the same age by using the BMI percentile.

BMI Percentile Interpretation:

The BMI was designed to screen populations, not individuals, and it is imperfect. Having a healthy BMI percentile does not guarantee that a child is in good health. However, a "normal" BMI percentile is considered the 5th to 85 %ile, a child with overweight would be above the 85%ile and a child with obesity would be above the 95%ile.

Limitations of the BMI Percentile

Not all weight is equal

A BMI chart can't distinguish between normal body fat and extra lean body weight (bone/muscle). This means that child who is muscular or athletic may have a high BMI despite being healthy and having low or normal body fat levels.

Body Fat Distribution

The BMI chart isn't capable of revealing where the extra weight is dispersed. If additional weight is kept in the chest and waist, it indicates a higher chance for health concerns, whereas if it's kept in the lower body, that does not imply a significant difference.

Puberty

Puberty timing varies from person to person, and has an enormous impact on growth. The chart's percentiles are not adjusted based on a child's puberty stage.

Diversity

Original BMI charts were based upon the growth of mostly white children living near Iowa City and Boston from 1930 to 1945. These charts did not adequately represent the diversity of 12-year-old boys. The BMI charts were updated in 2000 to make them more inclusive of diverse body types, races, and nationalities, but remain imperfect.

What to do if you are concerned about your child's weight.

If you are concerned about your child's weight, the best thing to do is talk to your child's doctor. The doctor can help you understand if there is a cause for concern and, if necessary, create a plan to help your child maintain a healthy weight.

There are a number of things you can do to promote a healthy weight.

-Encourage your child to be physically active

-Limit screen time, including TV, computers, and video games.

-Make sure your child gets enough sleep.

-Encourage your child to eat meals and snacks rich in fruits and vegetables.

-Promote a positive body self-image.

-Avoid using food as a reward or punishment.

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