As a parent, one of your worst nightmares is to see your child thinning down rapidly. The question ‘Why is my child losing weight’ keeps haunting you. Even though you may be taking care of his food, physical activities and sleep, your child’s weight loss could be a major cause of concern.
“How much should he ideally weigh? Am I not feeding my child enough? Is he unwell? Why is my child losing weight?” you may wonder.
If you are noticing an unexplained weight loss in your kid and pondering these questions, then read on.
Why Is My Child Losing Weight: Beyond the Basics
So why is your child really losing weight?
The fluctuation on the weighing scale in relation to kids is quite normal. But if your child unexpectedly experiences weight loss at a rapid pace, it can be worrisome for parents.
For tweens and teenagers, puberty plays a crucial role in unexplained weight loss.
Their hormones spark various physical changes including testicular enlargement in boys and breast development in girls as well as growth spurts in height. These bodily changes also lead to sudden loss of weight.
Children also often lose weight if they burn calories easily, do not eat healthy enough or are suffering from an illness or if their metabolism is low.
Either way, unexpected weight loss can have adverse effects on a child’s health and overall growth and development.
But before you jump the gun and assume that there is something wrong with your child, let’s first understand how their weight determines the health of a person and may differ based on that.
What Should Be My Child’s Ideal Weight?
Before you start asking yourself, “Why is my child losing weight?” You should also factor in what their ideal weight should be.
To check if your child is healthy or unwell you will have to check his body mass index (BMI). It helps you know if your child’s weight is ideal for his height and age.
You can either visit your child’s healthcare provider or check a BMI calculator online and use it to check your kids’ body fat content and ideal weight at home.
Dr Nancy Tan, a consultant paediatrician at SBCC Baby and Child Clinic at Gleneagles Medical Centre, earlier spoke to theAsianparent and explained how BMI works.
Here’s what she said:
Body Mass Index or BMI is a measurement used to calculate whether or not a person is underweight, overweight or obese based on their weight and height. Body Mass Index is calculated by dividing a person’s body weight by their height squared; however there are variations based on the age of the person and their race. Due to different body types, it is recommended that the overweight threshold for South East Asians is lowered compared to Western counterparts. In addition, BMI is measured differently amongst children than adults. The calculation remains the same but the comparison to determine a healthy weight range, is made with children of the same sex and age rather than the general population. With all of these factors in mind, BMI can be a complicated measure for you to use at home when trying to determine if your child is within a healthy weight range. If you are concerned your child is over or under weight, you should consult your family doctor who will be able to advise.
Read a BMI chart
Now, each BMI chart measure is divided into percentiles. So if your child’s weight percentile is less than 5, your kid is underweight.
This is also usually how doctors will determine if your child needs help with diet and physical activity in case he is losing weight.
They may recommend certain dietary measures and special exercises for him to gain a healthy weight for his age and height.
But if your child’s sudden weight loss is accompanied by one or a host of illnesses, then that is a reason to worry. So the next thing to do is to track changes in your child’s daily routine and diet as well as check for possible illnesses.
Why Is My Child Losing Weight: The Possible Causes
Weight loss in children can be a concerning sign and should be evaluated by a healthcare professional. Here are some possible causes of weight loss in children, according to the American Academy of Pediatrics (AAP):
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Undernutrition: Inadequate intake of calories and nutrients can lead to weight loss in children. This can occur due to poverty, food insecurity, or medical conditions that affect nutrient absorption or metabolism.
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Infection: Certain infections, such as tuberculosis, HIV, or parasitic infections, can cause weight loss in children.
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Chronic illness: Chronic conditions like cystic fibrosis, celiac disease, inflammatory bowel disease, or cancer can lead to weight loss in children.
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Medications: Some medications used to treat conditions like ADHD, depression, or autoimmune diseases can cause weight loss as a side effect.
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Eating disorders: Although less common in children, eating disorders like anorexia nervosa or bulimia can cause weight loss.
Many kids lose weight quickly if they exhibit the following symptoms along with unintentional and rapid loss of weight. In most cases, weight loss may just be the first indicator of a bigger underlying medical problem.
Therefore, these shouldn’t be ignored as mere ‘changes’ in a child’s body.
- Fever
- Dehydration
- Decreased urination
- Diarrhoea or vomiting
- Cold and cough
- Sore throat
- Chest and ear pain
- Increased sleepiness or sleeplessness
- Depression
- Eating disorders such as bulimia or anorexia
- Childhood cancer
- Gastrointestinal issues
If you notice any of these changes or illnesses, bring your child to their paediatrician without delay. However, if your child doesn’t have any of these issues but is still losing weight, it may because of a lack of proper nutrition.
Image Source: iStock
How to Increase My Child’s Weight
Parents need to remember that before trying to increase a child’s weight, it’s important to make sure they have a healthy weight range for their age, height, and body type. So evaluation from their doctor is necessary.
But in case your child’s paediatrician confirmed that you child does need to lose weight, here are some general tips on how to support a child’s healthy weight gain:
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Offer nutrient-dense foods: Provide your child with a variety of healthy foods that are high in calories and nutrients, such as avocados, nuts, seeds, whole grains, and healthy fats like olive oil or fatty fish.
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Encourage regular meals and snacks: Make sure your child eats regularly throughout the day to keep their metabolism going. Offer healthy snacks in between meals, such as fruit, yoghurt, or whole-grain crackers with hummus.
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Increase portion sizes: Offer slightly larger portion sizes than usual, but avoid forcing your child to eat more than they’re comfortable with.
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Offer high-calorie beverages: Encourage your child to drink milk, fruit juice, or smoothies instead of water. Be mindful of added sugars in some drinks.
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Make mealtimes enjoyable: Avoid pressuring or forcing your child to eat. Instead, create a positive and relaxed environment for mealtimes. Encourage your child to try new foods and involve them in meal planning and preparation.
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Limit distractions during meals: Turn off the TV and electronic devices during mealtimes to help your child focus on their food and enjoy the experience.
It’s important to keep in mind that weight gain should be gradual and healthy, and not achieved through unhealthy means. If you have concerns about your child’s weight, consult with a healthcare professional.
Apart from these dietary measures, make sure that your kid is well-rested and leads a stress-free life. His psychological health is also a crucial factor in his physical health.
That’s our answer to all parents wondering “Why is my child losing weight?” We hope that it was helpful to keep your child up to shape and healthy.
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