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What is considered overweight for a 12?

Overweight children fall between the 85th and 95th percentile, and obese children have a BMI equal to or greater than the 95th percentile. A healthy weight for a 12-year-old girl, therefore, can generally fall anywhere between 65 and 120 pounds.

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Many 12-year-old girls are quite concerned about their appearance, and weight plays a large role in their self-image. If you're concerned about your daughter being under- or overweight, make an appointment with her pediatrician. Remember, however, that weight is just one potential indicator of health; other more important factors play a role, too.

Weight and 12-Year-Old Girls

There isn't a specific weight that's considered normal for all 12-year-old girls. Instead, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention has established a range of weights defined as normal. This range takes into account differences in how children grow. For example, between the ages of 6 and 12, and before puberty starts, children tend to gain between 4 and 7 pounds per year. So, a 12-year-old girl who only gains 4 pounds a year will weigh less than a girl of the same age who gains 7 pounds per year. Both, however, are considered healthy.

How Healthy Weight Is Assessed

Healthy weight guidelines are based on body mass index, or BMI, a number that's used to plot a girl's weight on the CDC's growth chart and is calculated using current height and weight. Based on BMI, a child is underweight if her BMI is less than the fifth percentile. A child is within the healthy range if her BMI is between the fifth and 85th percentile. Overweight children fall between the 85th and 95th percentile, and obese children have a BMI equal to or greater than the 95th percentile. A healthy weight for a 12-year-old girl, therefore, can generally fall anywhere between 65 and 120 pounds.

What Can Cause the Variations

Girls enter puberty at different ages, so girls who have already started that process by age 12 can weigh more than girls who haven't. However, the opposite can also be true. A study published in 2013 in "Pediatric Obesity" reports that having a higher BMI early in life can cause early puberty. Genetics plays a role in weight, as well. Heavier parents can pass those genes to their children, which means that a 12-year-old girl with larger parents might weigh more than her peers who have smaller parents and vice versa. Activity level influences weight, too. Girls who are physically active tend to weigh less than girls who are sedentary. Serious athletes, such as gymnasts, can have a low body weight because they burn so many calories practicing their sport. Bone density and muscle mass can also influence weight. Girls with less muscle mass tend to weigh less than girls with more muscle mass.

When Weight Isn't Normal

If your 12-year-old daughter is underweight, make an appointment with her pediatrician to create a plan to help her reach a healthy weight such as adding certain high-calorie foods to her diet. Her pediatrician might also run tests to detect an underlying health problem that's causing weight changes, especially if she eats a healthy diet and gets an appropriate amount of exercise. Speak with your child's doctor about eating disorders because this is another possible explanation.

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