14 Healthy Tips To Support Weight Gain In Children

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Weight gain in kids is an important part of their development.A child is considered underweight if their BMI is below the fifth percentile when their weight is compared to their height.Being underweight during childhood might hinder their development rates. Thus, it is important to ensure that they get enough nutrients for their growth and development per their age (1). Various reasons might cause a child to be underweight. Hence, it is important to identify the root cause and modify their nutrition intake and diet accordingly.

Read on to know the possible causes of your child being underweight and how to help them gain weight.

In This Article

Why Is A Child Underweight?

A child may be underweight either due to an underlying health issue or other factors that impede the child’s daily intake of calories. These reasons may include the following (2) (3).

Less daily calorie intake due to general disinterest in eating

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Insufficient calories for the body due to increased physical activity
Parent’s lack of knowledge of the child’s daily calorie requirement
Diluted supplement preparations in case the child is on supplements
Underlying eating disorders such asanorexia nervosaⁱXAn eating disorder characterized by extreme weight loss and an intense fear of gaining weight
Inability to swallow due to neurological or oral sensitivity issues
Metabolic disorders that affect the conversion of food into energy such asgalactosemiaⁱXA genetic disorder that prevents the breaking down of galactose sugar, causing an excess amount that can impact the healthorphenylketonuriaⁱXA genetic disorder that leads to an increase in the levels of amino acids (phenylalanine) in the blood
Malabsorption due to diseases such ascystic fibrosisⁱXA genetic disorder affecting the lungs, pancreas, and digestive system by blocking the airways and organ ducts with mucus,Crohn's diseaseⁱXA chronic inflammatory and autoimmune condition of the digestive system characterized by pain, diarrhea, and fatigue, orceliac diseaseⁱXA reaction caused due to the intake of gluten (the protein found in wheat and some other grains)
Food allergies or intolerances that cause gastrointestinal disturbances
Childhoodstress and trauma leading to disinterest in food
Chronic or recurring infections or diseases

Quick fact

An overactive thyroid gland (hyperthyroidism) can cause a child to burn too many calories leading to poor weight gain(2).

Related:10 Common Childhood Illnesses: Symptoms And Treatment

What Happens If A Child Doesn’t Gain Weight?

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A child who struggles to keep up with the growth pattern as per their age could be diagnosed with failure to thrive (FTT). This diagnosis would be made by a healthcare provider. FTT can lead to (4):

Short stature
Decreased cognitive ability
Physical inactivity
Delayed development
Behavioral issues

Related:4 Stages Of Cognitive Development In Children & Ways To Support

How To Help A Child Gain Weight?

The ideal treatment to help a child gain weight depends on treating the underlying cause.It’s best to involve a pediatric dietician in making changes to your child’s diet to improveweight gain.The following tips, including minute changes to their everyday food patterns, could be used alongside the treatment for better results (5) (6).

Provide your child with abalanced diet. Limit fatty foods, sugary beverages, and fast food consumption.

Encourage your child to have a balanced diet

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Base their meals on complex carbohydrate-rich foods such aspotatoes,pasta, bread, or rice.
Prevent them fromskipping their meals.
Avoid making the meals bulky as it may lead to overeating. Six to eight small meals or snacks per day might be more suitable considering a child’sappetite.
Mix milk in pasta orsoupsto increase caloric content.
Encourage healthy protein-filled foods during their snack times, such as trail mix or nuts.
Substitute low-fat milk with whole milk or whole-milk yogurt for excessive calorie intake.
Addcheeseto recipes wherever you can.

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Top-upfruits, pancakes, or waffles with heavy cream anddry fruits forsome extra calories.
Include a cheese dip on the side with vegetable salads.
Provide them with fruitsmoothies,milkshakes, or wholenutsor nut butters, which are calorie-dense.
Substitute oils withbutter
Use avocados and fresh fruits ontoastsandsandwiches.
Consider meats with healthy fat content.

Point to consider

Young children are more attracted to foods arranged in eye-catching, creative ways. Make food appealing by using fun, colorful shapes children can recognize(14).

You may also provide the child with any supplements orprotein powderprescribed by a doctor for weight gain. Administering supplements to a child is not advised unless suggested by your healthcare provider or your dietitian (1) (7).A dietician could also help create a specializeddiet planto meet the right calorie requirement for your child’s age.

Besides these interventions, the following lifestyle changes could help a child eat food with interest and without any distractions, potentially improving the number of calories they consume.

Eat meals together as a family
Keep mobile screens away and TV off during meals
Maintain a regular meal time
Avoid low-nutrient, high-calorie foods such asjunk foodor soda/soft drinks
Encouragehealthy foodhabits such as eating a balanced diet

Related:10 Healthy Drinks For Kids (Besides Water)

Frequently Asked Questions

1. When should I worry about my child’s weight gain?

Parents must pay attention to their child’s weight and ensure they stay within a healthy weight range. A body mass index (BMI) less than the 5th percentile means the child is underweight, whereas a BMI at or above the 95th percentile means the child is obese, which can lead to various health problems, including childhood obesity. (8). While weighing too less can lower immunity and affect growth, being overweight or obese can expose a child to the risk of developing chronic health conditions such as diabetes and breathing problems (9) (10).

2. What medical conditions cause weight gain in children?

Genetic syndromes such asPrader-WilliⁱXA disorder caused by an abnormality of chromosome 15 and characterized by poor growth and development, obesity, and short stature,leptin resistanceⁱXA condition where the brain does not respond to the leptin hormone resulting in constant hunger and excessive food intake, insulinoma (excessive insulin production),Cushing syndromeⁱXHormonal disorder caused by excessive amounts of cortisol, the stress hormone, in the blood, growth hormone deficiency, and hypothyroidism are some medical conditions that can cause obesity in children (11) (12).

3. How can I tell if my child is underweight?

Regular monitoring of a child’s height and weight and plotting of the data on the CDC’s growth chart can help you know if your child is underweight or not.

4. What impact can a poor diet have on a child’s nutritional needs?

一个贫穷的或不健康的饮食不能满足孩子的nutritional needs. Besides, it can cause insufficiency, deficiency, or excess of nutrients, which can affect your child’s proper growth and development. Additionally, it can expose the child to several health issues due to weakened immunity (13).

Healthy weight gain for kids is essential for their adequate growth and development. If you notice the signs of weight loss, staggering growth, or an eating disorder in your child, consult a pediatrician, who may suggest you follow a diet chart to ensure the child receives adequate nutrients. Encourage physical activity and limit sedentary lifestyle habits such as excessive screen time. Under your pediatrician’s guidance, you can add more complex carbohydrates, whole milk, nuts, butter, and healthy proteins to their diet. Further, maintaining a weight gain reference chart can help parents track their child’s health and growth.

Key Pointers

Decreased daily calorie intake, food allergies, and eating disorders are common reasons that render children underweight.
Being underweight can result in delayed development and decreased cognitive ability.
Below are some recommendations for preventing children from missing meals, providing them with a balanced diet, and managing your child’s weight issues.

References:

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