Underweight in Children

Indices of underweight in children may reach from 3 to 5 per cent. Due to the growth requirements children are in particular need of energy from foods. The child's stomach is smaller than in adult and kids should consume smaller amounts of meals, but more frequently. Children possess natural ability to control food ingestion on the basis of present necessities. It is important to take into account child's needs to make feeding most efficient.
Parents must periodically calculate child's BMI - body mass index and analyze growth charts to assess growth patterns in cases of underweight in children. Parents can also recur to BMI calculator for kids to detect early signs and symptoms of this condition. Parents must also know the normal weight in children for determined weight, height, age and sex.
Underweight in children may result from consumption of bulky meals and large volumes of fluids that simply fill the stomach but do not supply the child with much energy. In this case, underweight in children develops because it is difficult to cover their energy requirements. Active children need additional energy with foods. Here parents may use drinks with concentrated energy such as milk. Underweight in children may be sometimes explained by fussy eating.
Among medical causes of underweight in children are birth defects, food allergies and undetected metabolic or digestive diseases. One should also take into account genetic predisposition in some cases of underweight in children.
Financial, emotional, and health problems in the family may also contribute to underweight in children. If these problems keep on during a long period of time, development of underweight in children becomes fairly probable.