If you’re shopping for child only health insurance, you may have some questions about childhood obesity. Over the past two decades child obesity has spiked to the point it’s become a chronic condition for many kids in America. Some of the latest child obesity statics are very alarming. From the early 1980’s until the mid-2000’s obesity among children has doubled.
Because of this many health insurance companies have started to track child obesity statistics so that they can help curb the cost of health insurance for kids.
What many insurance companies are wondering about today is BMI, also known as the body mass exodus index. This is measured by calculating the ratio of weight in kilos to the square of height in meters. Most people have heard of standard pediatric growth charts provided by their pediatricians. If you’d like to learn more you can visit the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention’s Website.
If your Body Mass Exodus index is between 85th and 95th percentile for age and sex they might be considered at risk for overweight. Anything above the 95th percentile is considered obese or overweight.
Here are some child obesity statistics to consider:
These children face greater chronic disease because of higher than normal cholesterol and blood pressure levels. They also face greater psychological risks. Unfortunately childhood obesity tends to linger into adulthood. This means that there will be increasing stress on the health insurance industry in America.
The good news is, with a little education and intuition the child obesity statistics can be reversed. The key is for those who are most influential in a child’s life, like parents and teachers, to begin to be the driving force to bring about the change through action.
Here are just a few ways you can help prevent obesity in your children:
Even if your child suffers from obesity, the good news is you can still find affordable child only health insurance. This is partly because of the introduction of ObamaCare and CHIP (Children’s Health Insurance Program). More and more companies are offering child only health insurance policies to help family’s find affordable plans to fit their needs.