31/03/2023
Why do children eat a lot without gaining weight?
Malabsorption often occurs in children with digestive disorders due to the influence in the treatment of infections (pharyngitis, tonsillitis, bronchitis...); due to unreasonable and unbalanced nutrition; children with intestinal diseases, often infection with helminths, other intestinal parasites; or lack of micronutrients reduces the secretion of digestive enzymes, thereby reducing the absorption of nutrients, vitamins and minerals.
When the malabsorption lasts for a long time, the baby will have a lack of energy and nutrients, leading to slow weight gain, delayed height growth, rickets, malnutrition and poor brain development.
At that time, the baby will have a weakened immune system, reduced ability to fight pathogens such as bacteria and viruses, increasing the risk of infections such as colds, respiratory infections, diarrhea. … This leads to the baby's growth retardation. This is a vicious cycle that is very difficult to break out of.
Not to mention, undernourished and sick children are also prone to cognitive and emotional disorders, which not only affect their cognitive and learning abilities in the immediate future and may last long into the future.
According to the National Institutes of Nutrition, during the first year of life, a child's development usually breaks down into stages.
In the first 3 months, babies grow very fast, gain weight from 1,000-1,200g/month, length increase about 3cm/1month. In the next 3 months, children gain weight from 400-600g/month and length usually increase 2-2.5cm/month.
In the next 6 months, the baby's weight increased less, from 300-400g/month. From the 7th to 9th month, the child's height increases by 2cm/month, and in the next 3 months, it also decreases to 1-1.5cm/month. Thus, by the age of 1, the baby's weight is 3 times that of birth (from 9-10kg) and the height increases by 1.5 times at birth (about 75cm).
In the period from 2-10 years old, the average weight increases from 2-3kg/year and height increases from 5-7cm per year. The period from 11-18 years old is the period of puberty, weight and height increase very quickly, can be up to 8-10kg and 8-10cm per year.
To monitor the child's growth, mothers must regularly weigh and measure the child's height. Usually children under 1 year old, mothers should weigh children 1 time in 1 month. Children from 1-3 years old are weighed once every 2 months and children over 3 years old are measured once every 3 months.
If the child is malnourished or overweight, it must be weighed every month or even every 2 weeks. After each illness, children must also be weighed to monitor their recovery. Ideally, mothers should use the table of height for age, weight for age, to determine the health status of the child.
if your child has symptoms: Anorexia, refusing to eat, Constipated, Bloating, Poor digestion, Malnutrition, failure to thrive
