What should you do when a child is thin and thin?

In an age when one in three children are overweight, the chances of a child being skinny or underweight will be overlooked. But underweight babies also have their own health problems.

When Huong Lan's daughter was 2 years old, she could not help but worry when they both went swimming. Little Hedgehogs look very bored in swimsuits, because anyone can clearly count each baby's ribs. Lan was concerned that people would think she wouldn't feed her children. Lan feeds her daughter a variety of foods, but Hedgehog is not interested, even when she is 4 or 5 years old, she only eats one piece. Currently 112 cm tall, she is taller than most of her classmates at the same school, but at just over 16 kg, she is even lighter than a toddler.

Hedgehog's meager weight is only at the first percentile according to the BMI line of pediatricians used to determine optimal weight. Approximately 99% of Hedgehog girls weigh more than her, meaning that by medical standards she is underweight (likewise for children below the fifth percentile).

However, experts say that it's best not just to rely on a single number, but constant, steady growth is really important. The real reasons for concern are the percentile decrease in height and weight growth or failure of weight gain during periods of height growth. Now 7 years old, Hedgehogs share the same percentile of height and weight as when she was 1 year old - but on the other hand, she grew quite well. However, this cannot be concluded for every skinny child.

Weight issue

Children develop very quickly in the first 12 months, gaining almost 7 kg. From 1 to 5 years old, children gain more than 2 kg per year. Thereafter, weight gain slows down with most babies steadily gaining 1 kg per year until puberty.

The child's appetite can decrease gradually with the period of calmness of weight. The appetite center in the brain controls the amount of food the child wants to eat.

A young child can quite fine-tune the amount of food needed unless other factors are involved.

Some medications, such as prescription drug stock hyperactivity attention ADHD, can reduce appetite. When a child with ADHD takes an extended-release medication in the morning, the appetite is suppressed until lunch. To help your child avoid this, talk to your doctor to switch to the quick-release type or to change your medication times when your child is not at school. Other health problems such as thyroid disease, reflux, and eating disorders can also hinder weight gain. And here's why parents know so well: diet.

Picky eaters

While preschoolers often pay attention to food, 4-year-old Gia Huy has extremely limited eating habits. His mother said his food was all chicken, fish fillet and fruit.

Children with eating habits like Huy may be at risk of not eating enough calories, vitamins and minerals necessary for brain and body development. As a result, children are susceptible to colds, lack of energy, have difficulty concentrating at school, and be temporarily short. Lack of certain nutrients is worse than lack of others. Iron is the most important thing. Not getting enough iron can lead to anemia and fatigue, lack of concentration at school and poor behavior in children. The second substances are zinc, calcium, vitamin D which are essential for normal growth and bones, as well as reduce the risk of osteoporosis after growing. A blood test can determine if your baby is vitamin deficient and needs additional supplements.

A low body mass index in children can slow puberty. If your daughter weighs less than 15 percent and doesn't start showing signs of puberty or menstruation at 15 years of age, talk to your pediatrician.

Growth opportunities

It is not necessary to fatten a skinny child when he or she is growing steadily and keeping up with major developmental milestones. But if you're concerned about your child's nutrition or simply want to know how to foster better eating habits, expert advice can help.

Forget the war with food. Parents' job is to regularly provide nutritious meals and snacks for their children. The child's story is deciding what to eat.

Cut back on junk food

Should we consider increasing energy for babies with milkshakes and chips? Should not. Feeding your baby sweet sweets and salty snacks can expose them to health risks such as diabetes and high blood pressure . The nutritional value of food is also an issue for lean babies, possibly important because they eat too little. Would you like to put your baby to bed hungry? Offer your child a food in a meal they enjoy every day. If your fastidious kid eats only unhealthy things, try to quit using a better, different analog (eg cheese with whole wheat pasta).

Look for foods that are high in calories, rich in nutrients. Choose high-fat dairy products over skim products; mix butter, cheese, or sauce into vegetables, pasta, and meat; provide foods rich in healthy fats like nuts and avocados; and use creamy soups instead of soups.

Feed the child with the family

Even if your baby is not eating and playing around with food throughout the meal, you should keep him at the table. They may sometimes want to try eating what you are enjoying. At the same time, you should limit the opening of the television or other devices while eating.

You should have a fixed snack schedule, eating snacks at the same time each day. While it's okay to offer snacks whenever your baby wants, it's best to save the meal's appetite.

Cut back on fluids

You give them whole milk or water with meals and track what they drink between meals. Do not give juices before meals because they can fill your baby's stomach.

Encourage exercise

In addition to helping your baby increase appetite, exercise can strengthen bones, increase muscle mass, support cardiovascular health, aid sleep, and boost intelligence.

Talk to your doctor

If your child complains of headaches, fatigue, dizziness, or if you are just concerned about his weight, talk to your doctor. Your doctor can refer you to a specialist to help rule out health problems. You may also want to check with a registered dietitian about how to incorporate a variety of foods and increase energy and nutrients into the menus your child normally eats.