What should I do if my child is overweight?

When is a child considered overweight?

A child is considered overweight when their isoBMI is 25–29.9, corresponding to the same threshold as an adult BMI of 25, but adjusted for the child's age and sex. IsoBMI is calculated automatically at BVC (child health centre) and in school health services based on height, weight, age and sex.

You can obtain an estimate yourself using our isoBMI calculator for children or the BMI calculator for children. However, it is always the trend in the growth chart and a clinical assessment that carry the most weight, not a single figure.

Is overweight the same as obesity?

No. Overweight (isoBMI 25–30) is not an illness and does not require medical treatment. Obesity / childhood obesity (isoBMI 30+) is classified as a chronic disease and should be treated within healthcare. See the difference between overweight and obesity in children.

What can you do at home?

For most families, small, sustainable changes to daily life are enough. The most important ones are:

• Regular meals at roughly the same times each day — breakfast, lunch, snack, dinner, evening snack.
• Water to quench thirst. Limit soft drinks, cordial, juice and sweetened dairy drinks to weekends or special occasions.
• Physical activity the child actually enjoys — at least 60 minutes in total per day.
• A cap on screen time — particularly sedentary time during leisure hours.
• Sleep — 9–11 hours for school-aged children. Too little sleep is an independent risk factor for weight gain.

These changes apply to the entire family, not just the child. Cooking and eating the same food together is essential.

What you should not do

• Do not tell the child that they are overweight, "need to lose weight" or need to "diet". Such comments increase the risk of eating disorders and low self-esteem — without helping their weight.
• Do not make weight a topic of conversation. Do not weigh the child at home on your own so that the number becomes the focus. If home measurements are part of the child's treatment, they are carried out in consultation with healthcare providers – in Evira without the child seeing the number.
• Do not put the child on a diet. Restrictive diets for children can disrupt growth and their relationship with food. Focus on what the family eats and how, not on portion sizes for the child.

For support with the conversation itself, read how to talk about health and address your child's questions about their body. There you will find examples of phrasing and advice on what to avoid.

When should you seek help?

Contact BVC, school health services or your health centre (vårdcentral) if:

• The BMI curve is rising more steeply than before despite changes in daily routines.
• IsoBMI passes 30 — this is then classified as obesity and the child should be assessed within healthcare.
• There is a family history of obesity, type 2 diabetes or cardiovascular disease.
• You would like support and guidance, regardless of the isoBMI level.

If school health services have contacted you regarding your child's weight — read what it means when school health services raise concerns about overweight.

Related questions

• What counts as overweight in children?Overweight in children corresponds to an iso-BMI of 25–30 — how it is assessed and when small changes are enough.
• What is the difference between overweight and obesity in children?Overweight and obesity are not the same thing — here are the cut-offs, and why the difference matters.
• Elevhälsan has called us in about my child's weight — what now?The school nurse has called you in — now what? Here is what the consultation looks like and how to talk to your child about it.
• What is childhood obesity?Childhood obesity is an iso-BMI of 30 or higher — a chronic disease that should be treated within healthcare.

See all questions and answers →