Texas Health Allen

Fall/Winter 2013

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The Weighting Game Football, baseball, volleyball — if it's a sport, your child probably loves to play it. Despite all that activity, he or she still has an unhealthy body mass index (BMI). Should you be concerned? TexasHealth.org 2 To schedule an appointment with a sports dietitian at Ben Hogan Sports Medicine, visit TexasHealth.org/BenHogan. BMI is a number that represents the relationship between weight and height. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention states BMI is a "reliable indicator of body fatness" for most kids. However, it doesn't always show the whole picture. According to the Academy of Nutrition and Dietetics, BMI is not a reliable measure for one particular group: athletes. "In addition to fat, body weight includes muscle mass, bone mass and water mass, and it should not be the only determining factor of health for athletes," says Paul Whatley, M.D., orthopedics and sports medicine physician on the medical staff at Texas Health Presbyterian Hospital Denton. "You should also consider that adolescents are still growing and might put on weight before a growth spurt, making them appear overweight temporarily. However, if your child's BMI suggests he or she is significantly over or underweight — or it stays in the maximum range for a long period of time — further evaluation may be needed." If your child has a high BMI, the first thing you should do is evaluate his or her diet. While some athletes may require a higher caloric intake, those calories should still come from healthy sources, such as fruits and vegetables, lean proteins, whole grains, and low-fat dairy. Paging Dr. Google w hen it comes to your health, the more valid information you have, the better. There's nothing wrong with doing your research, but be careful. Look for trustworthy sources, and then use that data to guide a dialogue with your medical team. Physicians recommend informative sources that are affiliated with the government or approved by the American Medical Association. These websites usually end in ".gov" or ".org," are not heavily covered in advertisements, and don't feature articles that try to sell anything to readers. Data should be updated frequently, peer reviewed and easily found on other trustworthy sites. Arm yourself with information, and don't be afraid to ask your physician questions. It's also important to recall that the physicians you are seeing have years of hands-on experience and education they use to care for patients. Medical decisions made together in mutual respect can benefit everyone involved. Find reliable health information about a variety of conditions at TexasHealth.org/Well-Being. According to a 2012 study by the Pew Research Center, one in three patients turns to the Internet to research their medical condition before heading to a doctor.

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