Dutch children and teenagers are becoming increasingly overweight. The number of overweight children has risen faster than ever before between 1997 and 2004, as revealed by a recent study conducted by TNO and the VU University Medical Center among 4 to 15 year-olds.
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Overweight and obesity are expressed using the Body Mass Index (BMI). Overweight among adults is present if the BMI is greater than 25, and obesity if the BMI is greater than 30. It is less easy to determine whether a child is overweight because here the criteria depend on age and sex.
With the support of the Loosco Foundation, TNO has developed a new concept: LukaRotor. LukaRotor is a method that integrates calculations and table-lookups into a tangible instrument with one or more rotating discs. In collaboration with the Ursula National Centre for Eating Disorders, the first product based on the LukaRotor will shortly be appearing: the BMI meter for children.
This BMI meter shows, with one operation, the BMI category of the child in question. There are 7 BMI categories: 2 for underweight, 1 for normal weight, 1 for overweight and 3 for obesity. The BMI meter requires the following input: age, height, weight and sex of the child.
On the basis of local data on the height and overweight of children, the BMI meter can be tailored to each individual country. Are you interested in finding out more? Then please don't hesitate to contact us.
