What Causes Insufficient Weight Gain in Children of Different Age Groups?

What Causes Insufficient Weight Gain in children of Different Age Groups?

Neonatal Period: Preterm infants, referred to as intrauterine growth-retarded, often experience delayed development due to premature birth, perinatal infections, congenital defects, maternal exposure to drugs or toxins during pregnancy (such as anticonvulsants or alcohol).

Infancy Stage: Inadequate feeding, whether through breastfeeding or bottle feeding, as well as improper feeding practices (such as incorrect formula preparation or insufficient feeding amounts) can lead to weight stagnation in newborns. Breastfeeding difficulties arising from congenital issues, incomplete feeding, or digestion problems can also contribute.

3 to 6 Months: Inadequate feeding due to economic constraints or parental lack of understanding of infant nutritional needs, or overfeeding can hinder proper growth during this period. Additionally, medical conditions like celiac disease, cystic fibrosis, and increased caloric requirements due to consumptive illnesses can affect nutrition absorption.

7 to 12 Months: Feeding issues, reluctance to accept certain foods, oral health problems, insufficient milk intake (for babies not introduced to complementary foods by 6 months or those resistant to new foods), and gastrointestinal infections or parasitic diseases can hinder weight gain.

12 Months and Older: Missing meal times, illnesses, new family conflicts (divorce, unemployment, birth of a sibling, family deaths), societal issues (restricting child's diet due to fear of overeating, poverty limiting suitable food purchases), growth and developmental disorders affecting eating habits, and swallowing disorders can contribute to weight stagnation.

Toddlers and Preschoolers (Ages 2 to 6): Insufficient weight gain in this age group is generally due to lacking specific nutrients like carbohydrates, proteins, fats, and micronutrients (including vitamins A, calcium, iron, zinc, iodine), excessive physical activity, irregular routines, inadequate sleep, appetite loss or eating disorders, vomiting, or persistent diarrhea. Medical conditions such as steroid or ADHD medication use, genetic factors, abuse, and a combination of physical and psychological factors can all lead to weight stagnation. Parents should regularly monitor their child's weight and remain vigilant for signs of inadequate weight gain.

School-Age Children (Ages 7 to 12): When a child's weight remains stagnant or decreases, underlying factors should be considered. Fever, chronic pharyngitis or tonsillitis, chronic otitis media, prolonged coughing or asthma, imbalanced diet or any factors impacting normal eating and nutrient intake, gastrointestinal diseases affecting food digestion and absorption, and malnutrition leading to immune system suppression and frequent infections can all contribute. Adolescents may engage in excessive dieting due to body image concerns, particularly prevalent among girls. Various medical conditions like renal acidosis, renal failure, congenital megacolon, pellagra, segmental enteritis, ulcerative colitis, urinary tract infections, tuberculosis, drug-induced malnutrition, cystic fibrosis, hypercalcemia, hyperthyroidism, hypothyroidism, and malignancies can cause weight loss. It is crucial to seek medical attention when weight loss is not obviously due to decreased food intake.