Emotional Well Being

How do I know if I have a weight problem?

Many young people become obsessed with their weight but getting weighed doesn’t really tell you that much, as weight can change quickly on a daily basis depending on when you last ate or drank and even if you need to go to the toilet. Exercise can also change your weight as muscle mass increases with exercise you do and muscle can weigh up to three times more that fat. A more accurate measure of whether your weight is within a normal range is by recording your Body Mass Index (BMI). This needs to be calculated as follows (which may sound difficult if you are no maths wiz) so we have provided a calculator that will do this for you.

Type in your weight in kilograms in the top box.
Type in your height in meters in the second box.
Now press the ‘Go’ button.
This will calculate your BMI.

Now take a look at the grids provided (blue if you are male and pink if you are female) and look under the column for your age group. The BMI in the green band is the expected BMI for your age.

Age	10	11	12	13	14	15	16	17
Underweight	13.7	14.0	14.4	14.8	15.3	15.8	16.4	16.8
Low Weight	14.5	14.8	15.3	15.7	16.3	16.9	17.4	17.8
Normal Range	16.4	16.9	17.5	18.1	18.7	19.4	20.0	20.6
Overweight	19.8	20.6	21.2	21.9	22.6	23.3	23.9	24.5
Obese	24.0	25.1	26.0	26.8	27.6	28.3	28.9	29.4

Age	10	11	12	13	14	15	16	17
Underweight	13.6	14.0	14.5	14.9	15.4	15.9	16.3	16.7
Low Weight	15.6	16.1	16.7	17.3	17.8	18.4	18.8	19.2
Normal Range	16.8	17.4	18.1	18.7	19.4	19.9	20.4	20.8
Overweight	19.9	20.7	21.7	22.6	23.3	23.9	24.4	24.7
Obese	24.1	25.4	26.7	27.8	28.6	29.1	29.4	29.7

If your BMI does not match the recommended BMI for your age (the green shaded area) then please do not worry. If you follow the tips in the ‘nutrition and healthy eating’ and ‘exercise and physical activity’ sections on the website, this will help you. There is no need to ‘diet’, as dieting means that you drastically reduce the number of calories you eat. By doing this you will also decrease the number of nutrients you eat which you need for healthy growth and development. If you are in orange shaded areas, then this is the time to make changes to your eating patterns to prevent further weight loss or weight gain. All the web pages are designed to help you do this. If you are in the red shaded areas it may be useful for you to seek professional help to explain what this means for you.

What is bullying?

Bullying is a deliberate and hurtful behaviour that usually carries on for a long period of time. Bullies are usually careful who they pick and they tend to select a person who is usually quiet, considered to be weak and insecure, and with low self esteem, so they are less likely to tell others for fear the bullying will get worse. Overweight children and those with learning disabilities are most frequently bullied. Bullies tend to be physically strong, confident and have a positive view about themselves. Bullies seem to have a following called ‘hench-men’ who encourage and provide support to bullies. This is mainly because they do not have the confidence to bully themselves but they can create a bullying situation and then stand by and watch.

What are the types of bullying?

The most common form of bullying is verbal name calling. Other types include:

• Being excluded from groups or play activities
• Spreading rumours and telling tales
• Damaging personal belongings and stealing
• Demanding money or other personal belongings
• Threatening behaviours – shouting, swearing
• Physical harm, hitting, hair pulling, biting
• Being made fun of, humiliated or ridiculed

What all these have in common is that the person bullied has a miserable life and prolonged bullying can lead to stress, anxiety, depression and even in some cases, self harm and suicide. If you are being bullied, please tell an adult you trust. They can help you through it.

What can be done in this situation?

If you listen to the bullies and take onboard their comments then they have won and they have succeeded in making you feel bad about yourself. Think positively and believe in yourself, proving the bullies wrong. Concentrate on your strengths and other good qualities. You may need some help to recognise these at first, until your self esteem and confidence grows, but there will be many things you have to offer that you are good at. Value your friendships where people like you because of your personality, regardless of your appearance or abilities. Remember, your weight does not change who you are as a person. If you feel low or depressed please share how you feel with an adult you trust. Talking helps and they will direct you towards further support if you need it. If you want help to lose your weight please see your doctor, or other health professionals, such as your school nurse. If you have a severe weight problem and would like to talk confidentially to a weight management specialist, you can contact SHINE (Self Help Independence Nutrition Exercise) on 01142 835803. This is an independent organisation which aims to help overweight young people challenge and confront their problems. Parents of overweight children are also welcome to contact us for guidance and support.

If you would like more help with changing your behaviours there is a multimedia resource on DVD called "Invisible", which offers much more information on all the topics covered in the Health 4 Kidz booklet. It contains a lively film, offers ideas for discussion, self awareness exercises and has printer friendly pages too. All this is accessed with just a click of your mouse. Please let your teachers and carers know about this too. For more information go to www.aboutbeingme.co.uk.