Case Scenario

Rosa Rivera is a 7-year-old child who is in the hospital after an asthma attack. The nurse working with Rosa on the day of discharge notes that Rosa is 48 inches tall and weighs 72 pounds, which places her body mass index at the 97th percentile. The nurse asks Mrs. Rivera about Rosa’s diet and exercise patterns. Mrs. Rivera states that Rosa is a healthy eater and likes to read, watch television, and play video games. Mrs. Rivera is receiving food from the Women, Infants, and Children (WIC) program and works long hours to support her family. Frequently, Mrs. Rivera picks up fast food on her way home from work; she does not always have time to cook when she gets home. Mrs. Rivera states that Rosa likes juice and sports drinks, and she eats a lot of macaroni and cheese and hot dogs. Mrs. Rivera states that she believes that Rosa is at a healthy weight for her age and that she just has some “baby fat.”