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Information on Underweight Kids

Some children are naturally thinner than others. Many kids eat well-balanced diets, participate in physical activity, and still have a slender build. This is no cause for concern. However, being thin or slender is very different from being underweight. Kids who are underweight could be suffering from dietary, health, or emotional problems.

  1. The Facts

    • Body mass index is used to determine body fat. It is calculated by measuring a person's weight and height. For children and teens, age and sex is also added into the equation to determine the child's BMI-for-age percentile. A healthy weight for children and teens ranges from the fifth to below the 85th BMI-for-age-percentile. An underweight child has a body mass index that is below the fifth percentile. The Centers for Disease Control provides an online BMI calculator.

    Causes

    • There are a variety of possible reasons for a child to be underweight. There could be an underlying illness that has gone undiagnosed, the child could be under a lot of stress, the child could be going through a growth spurt, or the child could simply not be eating enough food. If the child has lost interest in eating, the child could be suffering from anxiety or a food allergy that causes discomfort after meals. The lack of weight gain could also be due to emotional issues, such as a fear of being overweight. While eating disorders are more common in girls, boys can be afflicted by these disorders as well.

    Warning

    • If a child that has been determined to be underweight is physically active, eats a healthy diet, and is growing normally, there is no need for concern. However, if the child has a low-energy level and frequently feels weak or tired, has a poor appetite, is not gaining proper weight or is losing weight, or has trouble concentrating, a full medical exam should be given to rule out any serious health problems.

    Solution

    • To gain weight, underweight children must receive more calories. Tracking the child's caloric intake can help parents determine what changes need to be made to the child's diet. Fattening foods like candy, soft drinks, certain desserts, and certain fast-food meals, provide empty calories. Underweight children need calories that are rich in nutrients. Children should receive a well-balanced diet containing foods from each of the MyPyramid food groups.

    Suggestions/ Tips

    • High-calorie breakfast foods include bagels spread with cream cheese, pancakes paired with ham and fruit, and fruit smoothies made with yogurt. For lunch, offer underweight children peanut butter and jelly, macaroni and cheese, or breaded chicken and baked French fries. Dinnertime options include pasta, bean chili with corn bread, sweet potatoes, baked potatoes with broccoli and cheese, beef stew, or hamburgers. Aside from feeding underweight children nutritious, high-calorie meals, it is also important to promote a healthy body image.

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