How to determine if your child needs to gain weight

What to do when a child's weight is below what is healthy for their age

When talking about children's and teens' weight, which is a sensitive subject, people often talk about the health costs of being overweight or obese. Occasionally, however, a youngster must gain weight. While there are numerous ways to accomplish this, not all of them are healthy.

  

What to do if your child appears to be underweight
If you are unsure whether your child needs to gain weight, consult with your doctor before beginning any weight-gain efforts. It is certainly likely that your child's weight is perfectly normal. Given that one in every five children in the United States is obese and another one in every six is overweight, it's understandable for a parent to believe their child is underweight in comparison. Checking your child's body mass index, a measurement based on height and weight that is used for children aged 2 and older, is one approach to determining if their weight is healthy.

Losing weight or being underweight might be a sign of a medical or emotional issue, so discuss your worries with your doctor. They may want to see your child determine whether any evaluations are required. If your child is under the age of two, it is very important that you consult with your doctor regarding weight concerns and strictly adhere to their recommendations.

Choosing nutritious foods for a youngster who needs to gain weight

If your child is over the age of two and the doctor believes that gaining weight is a good idea, the best way to go about it is to use nutritious foods and healthy practices.

Three strategies for encouraging healthy weight gain:

Make sure you feed your child three times daily, which includes breakfast, lunch, and dinner, as well as two nutritious snacks (mid-morning and mid-afternoon). You can give your child a light snack if she or he finishes breakfast early. You want them to be truly hungry when you feed them, so try to limit their access to snacks and liquids between meals.

Provide nutritious, high-calorie foods. Consider nutritious fats and proteins. Some examples are:
Boil pumpkin seeds, sunflower seeds, nut butter, and nuts.

Hummus

Olive oil and vegetable oil

Avocados

Meat

Whole milk, heavy cream, and cream cheese

Whole grains, such as whole-wheat bread and granola sweetened with juice,

Make the meal more delicious and nutritious by considering ways to add calories every time you make a meal or snack. For instance, you may add additional oil, butter, or cheese to pasta or nut butter to apple slices or toast.

What to avoid

giving your youngster more sugary or unhealthy foods. Children typically desire sweets and junk food, both of which are high in calories. However, they are not nutritious, and it is not wise to develop a habit of eating sweets and junk food.

Providing your youngster with unfettered food access Even this is enticing, as you want them to eat! However, not only is it difficult to ensure that they are consuming healthy foods but snacking might also make them less hungry at mealtime.

allowing your child to consume as much milk and other beverages as desired, including nutritional supplement liquids. This also makes it less likely that they will eat at mealtime, and it is doubtful that they will receive all the nutrients they require. Give your child nutritional supplements only if your doctor recommends them.

Be sure to plan regular appointments with your doctor to track your child's development. Hopefully, your child will soon achieve a healthy weight that will allow them to flourish as they continue to develop.