This article discusses the average weight for 12 year olds as well as other important things impacting their average weight. Keep reading to get the idea.
Preteens begin to pay greater attention to their appearance, and your daughter or son may be curious about how she compares to her classmates in terms of height and weight. Generally speaking, girls begin puberty sooner than males and, by the age of 12, may be taller than their boy counterparts. Boys, on the flip side, may be more concerned about their height.
Your child’s weight and height can be assessed by your medical professional, who can then offer advice if necessary. However, it is still great to know the average weight for 12 year olds. This way, you can partly know if your kids are within the recommended weight spectrum or not. Of course, the average weight range only can tell nothing about their health conditions. So, all of these aspects will be discussed in this post. Let’s dig into it right now!
What Weight Should 12-Year-Old Teens Have?
According to the CDC (the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention), the average weight for 12-year-old boys and girls marking the 50th percentile is 89 pounds and 92 pounds, respectively. There are not many variations between the average weight of boys and girls at this age.
The fundamental predictor of teenagers’ height is genetics, or how tall one’s parents are. It is relatively popular for your adolescent to put on weight before experiencing a growth purse and height increase. All young teenagers benefit from eating a balanced and nutritious diet rich in vegetables and fruits, getting enough sleep each night, and remaining active.
When it comes to determining the ideal weight for a 12-year-old, referencing an average height and weight chart for teen boys and girls can be quite helpful. This chart can offer an estimate of what your preteen should weigh based on their height and age. It’s important to remember that there are many factors that can influence weight, such as muscle mass and body composition, so it’s always best to consult with a doctor if you have concerns about your child’s weight.
The average weight of a 12-year-old boy
| 5th percentile | 67 pounds | 30.4 kilograms |
| 10th percentile | 71 pounds | 32.3 kilograms |
| 25th percentile | 78 pounds | 35.3 kilograms |
| 50th percentile | 89 pounds | 40.3 kilograms |
| 75th percentile | 103 pounds | 46.7 kilograms |
| 90th percentile | 119 pounds | 54 kilograms |
| 95th percentile | 130 pounds | 59 kilograms |
The average weight of a 12-year-old girl
| 5th percentile | 68 pounds | 30.8 kilograms |
| 10th percentile | 72 pounds | 32.6 kilograms |
| 25th percentile | 81 pounds | 36.7 kilograms |
| 50th percentile | 92 pounds | 41.7 kilograms |
| 75th percentile | 106 pounds | 48 kilograms |
| 90th percentile | 123 pounds | 55.8 kilograms |
| 95th percentile | 135 pounds | 61.2 kilograms |
What Factors Control 12-Year-Old Teenagers’ Average Weight?
It’s more difficult to figure out how much a 12-year-old teenager should weigh than it is to plot numbers on a graph. A number of things influence a child’s weight at the age of twelve as follows:
Developmental Rate
At the onset of puberty, the weight of all children might fluctuate dramatically because of the changes in fat storage, muscle mass, and of course, height.
Puberty can begin at any age, and it is very different for girls and boys. For example, the most common period for girls to start experiencing puberty is between 8 and 14 years old, while it is 2 or 3 years later for boys to start this period. But sometimes, several kids are just beginning while others have finished this developmental process.
Get a better understanding of your child’s developmental rate by checking out growth percentile charts for kids. These charts provide insight into the average height and weight of children at different ages, so you can compare your child’s growth to that of their peers. By tracking your child’s growth over time, you can ensure that they are developing at a healthy rate.
Genetics
Genes passed down from parents determine a child’s height, weight, and other physical characteristics. This indicates that a child’s weight might well be predicted, independent of their eating and activity habits.
Body Makeup and Height
Your child’s weight is also affected by their height. Taller children may weigh far more than their shorter counterparts, although this is not an absolute rule. But it is widely known that frame size, muscle mass, and body shape are among the three most crucial factors affecting teenagers’ weight.
For instance, if your kid is an athlete, he/she can weigh much more than an ordinary kid of the same age (but is not really active). This is because your child has a higher amount of muscle mass, which is also heavier than fat.
If you are a parent concerned about your child’s height, you may want to check out the average height range for boys from 9 to 18 years old. This can help you track your child’s growth progress and compare it to the average range. It is important to keep in mind that height can be influenced by a range of factors, including genetics and nutrition.
Location
The environment where a kid is raised might have an impact on their weight and general body size. Puberty occurs at various ages around the world. Puberty usually starts earlier in northern Europe on average than in the south of Europe, probably due to obesity prevalence and genetic conditions.
In other parts of the world, variables such as socioeconomic background and food availability may influence weight. Cultural traditions may play a part.
How Is a Teenager’s Healthy Weight Determined?
Body mass index, or BMI, is a statistic that is derived using present weight and height and is used to display a child’s weight on the growth chart of the CDC (the Center for Disease Control and Prevention). For instance, if a child’s BMI falls below the fifth percentile, he or she is considered underweight.
However, if a kid’s BMI falls from the fifth to 85th percentile, she is considered healthy. Obese kids have a BMI equivalent to or much greater than the 95th percentile, while overweight teens usually have a BMI from 85 to 95 percentile. So, it is recommended that a healthy weight range for a 12-year-old girl is from 65 to 120 pounds.
| Classification | Percentile |
| Underweight | Less than 5th percentile |
| Healthy or normal weight | 5th percentile to less than 85th percentile |
| Overweight | 85th percentile to less than 95th percentile |
| Obese | 95th percentile or greater |
How to Improve a 12-Year-Old Teenager’s Development
When your kids are 12 years old, there are really a lot of things you should think about rather than only their average weight. It is, ultimately, more important for them to live healthily as their physical weight just plays a small role in that picture. You should give high priority to these aspects of their life to make sure they are as healthy and strong as possible.
Nutrition
Most children tend to eat different types of foods at this age, but probably not too many varieties. Here are some effective ways to stimulate your 12-year-old teens to eat more. These include keeping snacks out of their diet, getting them a broad diversity of colorful foods, having meals with them but don’t forget to talk with them during this time. It is just like having meaningful, intelligent conversations.
If you’re looking to gain weight and considering nutrition drinks, check out our article on Boost nutrition drinks and weight gain. We explore whether or not these drinks can actually help you put on pounds and what you need to know about the ingredients.
Sleeping Habits
At the age of 12, kids usually fall asleep easily. However, they are also kept awake due to different reasons. They can be too much homework, wanting to play games or with their friends. So, it is vital for you to build a good sleep habit for them by giving your child a consistent bedtime routine and time, including on weekends.
Sex Education
Children are discovering their bodies and anything they can do when they are around this age. This is also considered an appropriate time to talk with your child about sexuality if you haven’t had. They tend to have an earlier beginning of puberty than kids of previous generations, so they might be better aware of it. You should teach them about pregnancy, sexually transmitted diseases, and the way that their bodies work too.
Health Improvement
How much your 12-year-old kid weighs is not important as how healthy they are. As such, health promotion is really crucial for kids of this age. You should promote good habits and activities, such as positive social circles, moderate entertainment (like television, video games, movies), etc. At the same time, keep them away from alcohol, drugs, smoke, intimidation, bullying, or so.
If you want to improve your health, start by incorporating alternating between running and walking into your exercise routine. This is a low-impact way to burn calories, boost your cardiovascular health, and strengthen your muscles.
Final Thoughts
We all know that each kid is not the same as another. Therefore, their average weight will also be absolutely different, especially for those who are in puberty. For children of 12 years old, the average weight (marking the 50th percentile) for girls is 92 pounds, while it is 89 pounds for 120year-old boys.
