Healthy and Active Kids
     
 

Healthy Weight

Today's lifestyles can make it hard for young people to stay healthy, eat well and exercise enough.

Healthy eating and exercising help maintain a healthy weight.

Why is it hard to do this?

  • Because we rely on cars for transport instead of walking or riding a bike;
  • Because we spend more time sitting at a computer doing homework, using the internet or playing games;
  • Because not everyone has easy access to parks where we can be active;
  • Because there are so many different foods to choose from it's hard to know how to make a healthy choice

The NSW Childhood Obesity Summit held in September 2002 brought together a range of people, from health experts to young people, to look at ways to make it easier for young people to maintain a healthy weight. Maintaining healthy weight means that you are more likely to feel satisfied with how you look and feel.

A number of young people participated in the Summit and represented the views of Australian youth. The views of young people were heard throughout the Summit via youth speakers, video presentations and live performance. The information provided by people who took part in the Summit will help direct action taken to address childhood obesity in the future.

How do I know if I am in a healthy weight range?

Your local doctor (General Practitioner or GP) and other health care workers like dietitians are the best people to tell you whether you are a healthy weight.

One of the ways they can do this is by working out your Body Mass Index (BMI), a special calculation made from measurements of height and weight. They will also take into account your age and how much you are growing.

Work out your BMI and get information about healthy weight ranges

How can I maintain a healthy weight?

You can help maintain your weight by balancing the amount you eat and drink with the energy your body needs to function, grow and exercise. Eating a balanced diet and leading an active lifestyle can help you maintain a healthy weight.

Find out about your food and activity and get your own Healthy Food and Activity Guide