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Weight worries concern mother, insurance company

(NBC) - 4-year-old Hayden Martin of Sierra Vista, AZ, is 42 pounds and 42 inches tall.

While he doesn’t look overweight, his mother's insurance company thinks he needs to drop a few pounds. It sent her a letter saying Hayden’s not only overweight, he's obese.

"He can run, he doesn't get winded, he's very healthy," said mom Tonja Martin. "That's crazy. Look at him, he's not obese!"

The calculator, which is part of a Blue Cross Blue Shield health program for kids, puts his BMI at 17.5, which, according to its chart, is obese.

Hayden's mom is supposed to send the information back to Blue Cross Blue Shield, but she doesn't think it's a good idea.

"My concern is that our insurance will be tagged that he will have a pre-existing condition," she feared.

We checked with the CDC's Web site and put in Hayden's height and weight. It's put his BMI at 16.7, which is considered healthy weight.

We checked with Blue Cross Blue Shield.

In a statement they said, "It is not the intent of the BCBS FEP to use any of the info obtained from the Jump 4 Health program to exclude or limit benefits. The point of this program is to help children learn how to eat healthy and exercise as part of a healthy life-long lifestyle."

Hayden's mom just doesn't want any problems down the road.

"I feel they are setting myself and others up for potential future issues," Martin said.

Blue Cross Blue Shield says the chart they mailed out is from a children's hospital in Boston and follows CDC guidelines.

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