Approximately 17 percent of children qualify as obese, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. Obesity puts your child at an increased risk for health problems such as type 2 diabetes and heart disease.

Most child characteristics—including weight and height—vary across a wide range. View any group of children of the same age and gender, and you will see some children who are shorter than others, some who tower over their peers, some who seem scrawny and some who appear to be carrying extra pounds.

Both your weight and body composition are important for good health. No ideal body weight exists for anyone, but rather there is a range of acceptable weights for any given height. A doctor can advise you on whether you're at a healthy weight or have an increased risk of obesity-related health problems.

When you look at yourself in the mirror first thing in the morning, you see a belly that's flatter than at any other time during the day. This happens because you're coming off of a multi-hour fast -- which means that most of your food has been digested, so it can't cause any bloat.

Instead of aiming for an ideal weight, which doesn't necessarily exist, you may want to work toward a weight within the healthy range for your height.

The number of overweight and obese people in the United States increased from 45.8 percent to 73.9 percent between 1960 and 2007, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. Between those times, the National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey weighed and measured a large sample of the U.S.

Any food, eaten in excess, will make you gain weight, which includes foods made from soy. That doesn't mean that soy is inherently fattening, though; in fact, many soy-derived foods have nutrients that actually help with weight control.

Water is important for regulating body temperature, cushioning your joints, strengthening your muscles, providing moisture for your skin and other tissues, and for carrying nutrients to your cells.

Assessing your weight helps you determine whether you're at risk for chronic disease or if you have compromised immunity. Too much fat, even on a person of normal weight, can have deleterious health effects.

Your caloric intake need is based on your estimated energy expenditure, which varies based on your ideal body weight, activity level, age, height and gender.

The key to maintaining a healthy weight is balance. You can eat whatever you want and not gain weight as long as your caloric intake is equal to your caloric output.

The ideal weight for a ballerina depends on the ballet company and the individual ballerina. Ballet has attempted to move in a more modern and sensitive direction by accepting larger dancers, but there is still a certain body type that is considered most appealing on the stage.