I can't duplicate the chart we got about Maxi's progress with his weight control clearly enough for you all to see. So, I'm hoping you'll be able to visualize it from my description.
Across the bottom of the page are numbers representing ages from 2 to 20. Along the left margin are numbers representing percentiles for BMI... Body Mass Index, which has to do with height and weight combined. From the bottom of the page going up the left margin, the numbers begin at 2% and increase by twos up to 38%. Running horizontally across the middle of the page are several upward curving lines to represent "average" range of BMI for the various ages. A child of Maxi's age should be somewhere between about 14% and 26%. That's the standard form. The computer inserts black dots to represent Maxi's BMI each year since age 8.
On Maxi's chart there is a cluster of dots near the top of the page, meaning his BMI was way way over normal for a child of his age. From age 8 to 10, he went from a BMI of 36 to 38, with the biggest increase between ages 9 to 10. At 10, it was very hard to see him be so high on the chart and to know what that meant in general for his health and well being. From age 10 to 11, there was only a slight increase but it was still way up there! That was the year I was working very hard with him to try to implement helpful things for him by just reading books and trying.
Then when he turned 11 we got him under the care of the pediatric gastroenterologist and weight control specialist. And the progress is thrilling! In the narrow column between age 11 and 12, there are FIVE dots on the chart going nearly straight down!
Like this:
--* ---* ---*
-----*
-------*
as he dropped from a BMI of 38 down to 34!!!
Everyone was so delighted and surprised at the clearly respresented progress as he's been losing weight, gaining height and building muscle, that they were celebrating in the hallway at the pediatric center where he's been cared for since birth.
Before we saw the chart, the new doc we were meeting for the first time mentioned Maxi's weight and the way he said it, I was unsure what he was getting at. He said "Have you guys been working on weight issues?" and at first I thought he meant, "if not, you should be!" So, I hestitantly said "yes" and braced myself for this newbie to jump in with both feet in a critical way. Instead, he said "Well, whatever you are doing, keep it up! These results are fantastic!" and then he showed me the chart. This new doc was just filling in for Maxi's regular doc who was slammed with a big patient load but who had promised to poke his head in the door. Everybody from the attending physician in charge of the center, to all the docs, the nurses, the aids, EVERYBODY was so delighted for Maxi's hard work and great results they were congratulating him and giving him High Fives. Rejoicing! Maxi was grinning to beat the band.
If he continues to make progress at this rate, by the time he is 13 next year, he will be right on target and within the "average" BMI's for that age group.
Now how cool is that?
I'm so proud of all his hard work.
Merme
We were given two hands to hold, two eyes to see, two ears to listen & two legs to walk. But why were we given only one heart? The other heart was given to another for us to find.
That is so cool, Merme. Congrats to Maxi. I love those charts. Physically, they point you in the right direction for your kids. They also point where things might be going off a bit.
~Tina
Drama Free Zone. What every gardener loves the most, Begins and ends in rich compost. (Tina)
Thanks, Tina! We are delighted with his progress so far.
I will have updated photos to share soon.
Merme
We were given two hands to hold, two eyes to see, two ears to listen & two legs to walk. But why were we given only one heart? The other heart was given to another for us to find.
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