7 most common causes of thin children and effective ways to overcome them

Body weight is one indicator of a person's nutritional status. No wonder many parents feel very worried when they see their children are too thin. However, did you know that underweight children do not always indicate that they are malnourished? Yes, in fact, there are many things that can make a child look thin.

Various causes of thin children

There are many factors that can cause thin children, one of which is genetic. So, if you or your partner has a thin body, your little one may also experience the same thing.

Apart from genetics, here are other things that can cause your child to have a thin body:

Lack of nutritional intake (malnutrition)
Excessive activity that is not supported by adequate nutritional intake
Having certain diseases
Experiencing indigestion
Selection of inappropriate food, for example, children only want to eat foods high in sugar, junk food, and other less nutritious
An environment that is less hygienic, so that children are prone to disease
Stress experienced by children

Actually, should parents worry about having thin children?

Every parent must be worried that the growth and development of their child is not the same as other children his age.

However, as mentioned above, there are many factors that can cause your child to be thin.

In general, if your child is fine, his appetite is maintained, he can still actively play around and around, you don't need to worry.

It's a different story if the cause of the child is thin due to malnutrition, aka malnutrition. If you have this, you need to worry. Malnutrition makes the child's body deficient in vitamins and minerals.

In fact, vitamins and minerals are very important to increase the body's immune system. The decline in the body's immune system is what causes thin children due to malnutrition to become sick more easily.

One of the diseases most susceptible to malnourished children is infection, for example the flu, coughs and colds.

In addition, children who are malnourished are also more likely to experience hormonal disorders, appear weak, lethargic, and lack energy.

Even if left without proper treatment, malnutrition in children can affect intelligence and development later.

Then, how do you distinguish between normal and abnormal thin children?

Surely you are wondering how to distinguish thin children who are normal, or those due to certain conditions.

Now, to find out this, the best way you can do is consult a pediatric nutrition specialist.

Later the doctor will carry out a series of examinations to see your overall physical condition.

The very first thing that doctors do is check the child's body composition.

Body composition checks involve measuring your weight, height, upper arm circumference, and so on.

The results of this examination will be matched with the child growth curve from the WHO.

In addition, the doctor will also thoroughly assess your child's eating habits and health condition.

The doctor will also ask about the child's medical history, whether the child has certain digestive disorders or other medical conditions that interfere with the absorption of nutrients.

If necessary, the doctor will also perform laboratory tests to determine medical causes that may be experienced by the child.

Especially if your child has good eating habits but is not gaining weight.

How parents help increase children's weight

Assuming your child doesn't have any underlying medical problems, the easiest way you can do to help increase your child's weight is to increase your calorie intake.

But remember, the addition of calorie intake in this thin child must also be considered carefully.

Make sure you feed your calories from foods that contain healthy fats.

Avoid feeding food “Junk food"In an effort to increase the child's weight.

Apart from healthy fats, make sure you also provide nutritious foods to children that refer to balanced nutrition such as carbohydrates, protein, vitamins, minerals, and fiber.

Probiotics and omega-3 intake are also needed to help increase the weight of your child who is too thin.