The U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention describes the differences in growth and weight patterns for boys and girls and explains the use of BMI for age, which is both gender- and age-specific. (
http://www.cdc.gov/nccdphp/dnpa/bmi/bmi-for-age.htm
)
Click on the links below for information about clinical growth charts and gender- specific growth charts for children and teens 2 to 20 years of age:
This Health Canada site provides guidelines for achieving and maintaining a healthy weight. Includes a fact sheet on obesity. (
http://www.hc-sc.gc.ca/fn-an/nutrition/weights-poids/index_e.html
)
Canada's Physical Activity Guides for various age groups, page 404
This Handbook to Canada's Physical Activity Guide to Healthy Active Living looks at the importance of physical activity and how much of it you need to stay healthy. It describes endurance, flexibility, and strength activities and gives suggestions for building physical activity into your daily life. (
http://www.phac-aspc.gc.ca/pau-uap/paguide/index.html
)
Should you go on a diet? This article discusses the right way and the wrong way to lose weight, and identifies dieting fads that don't work. (
http://www.intelihealth.com/IH/ihtIH/WSIHW000/7165/8993/196697.html?d=dmtContent
)
Find out how to make VITALITY a part of your life. "Enjoy eating well, being active, and feeling good about yourself. That's VITALITY." (
http://www.hc-sc.gc.ca/fn-an/nutrition/weights-poids/vitalit/index_e.html
)
