Updated growth charts released Thursday by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention now extend to a body mass index of 60 — up from previous charts that stopped at a BMI of 37, with additional categories to track obesity in kids ages 2 to 19.Today, about 4.5 million children — about 6% — fall into that categoryWhite House reveals winter COVID-19 plans, more free testsA week into China's easing, uncertainty over virus directionUS deaths fell this year, but not to pre-COVID levelsBiden administration proposes crackdown on scam Medicare adsGrowth charts show patterns of development by age, expressed in BMI, a calculation of height and weight, and also in curves called percentiles.“That was when it kind of got out of control,” recalled Alcala, who had put on extra pounds after developing a rare childhood bone disease that limited his activity.However, one expert who questions the use of BMI to assess adults, said doctors need to be careful using the new charts with kids.They should focus on behaviors that drive weight gain, taking care not to stigmatize kids and families, said Dr. Tracy Richmond, an associate professor of pediatrics at Harvard Medical School."