Slow Weight Gain In Children

When pediatrician Dr. Christopher Donohoe first met one of his infant patients, he knew the little boy was likely malnourished due to his physical appearance and weight. The doctor later wrote about his experience working with the child and his cognitively impaired mother in the summer 2009 edition of "Notre Dame Magazine." As his story reveals, poor weight gain and development among children are not problems confined to developing countries. While not always serious, children who do not meet expected growth milestones should be medically evaluated.

Normal Causes

Slow weight gain is not always a sign for concern, particularly in infants. All children have their own pattern of growth and development, and some just may put on weight slower than others, even if they are getting proper nutrition. The Children's Hospital of Philadelphia reports that babies who request food at least eight times in 24 hours, excrete waste normally and can wake up independently are likely just slow to put on weight. Normal growth and development beyond the slow weight gain also are healthy signs.

Reasons for Concern

Whether an infant, a young child or a teenager, slow weight gain can sometimes be attributed to a serious underlying cause. The phrase "failure to thrive" is used to describe children whose weight is substantially below the norm for their age and gender. Medical professionals diagnose children as failing to thrive when their weights are 20 percent below what is healthy for their heights, according to the University of Maryland Medical Center. This is usually discovered during infancy, but this is not always the case, particularly in cases of parental neglect. These children not only weigh less than their peers, but also have stunted heights. A failure to thrive can be attributed to abnormal metabolism, malnutrition, malabsorption disorders, infections and genetic mutations, according to a September 2003 article in "American Family Physician."

Effects

Infants who are not meeting growth milestones due to malnutrition or an underlying health condition can have both physical and mental difficulties. They may not be able to meet expectations for independent sitting, standing or walking. Some kids, particularly babies, may seem distant or have trouble concentrating. Children whose nutritional needs are not met have learning challenges and may fail to develop proper socialization. Changes during puberty may also be compromised, affecting their ability to develop secondary sex characteristics, such as body hair or breast growth.

Treatment

Treatment is based upon the cause of the child's slow weight gain. Diagnosing any contributing infections, diseases or genetic abnormalities is essential to improving children's health outcomes. Beyond these considerations, all children who fit the guidelines for failure to thrive need to start a high-calorie diet and receive continual medical evaluation, according to Dr. Scott D. Krugman and Dr. Howard Dubowitz, the authors of the 2003 "American Family Physician" article. Hospitalization is typically required in severe cases, or if medical professionals believe the child is in danger.