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What Causes Very Slow Height And Weight Growth In Child?

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Posted on Tue, 29 Sep 2015
Question: My son is 20 months old and weighs only 7.5kgs. He is an active baby and is upto the mark with the development milestone. Is it a matter to worry considering his weight and his age
doctor
Answered by Dr. Pradeep Kumar Jain (1 hour later)
Brief Answer:
Weight of 7.5 kg is much below the normal limit

Detailed Answer:
Hello

Thanks for asking on this platform

Weight of 7.5 kg at this age is much below the normal limit.
It is good to know that she has achieved the developmental milestones well.
I would like to know if her diet is adequate or not,her bowel habit is normal or not.
She needs proper physician examination to rule out any underlying disease causing this failure to thrive.
I would suggest you to get her evaluated by a pediatrician for complete physical examination .
If clinical examination is normal,I would like to increase the frequency and amount of feed.Also add some ghee or butter to meet the caloric demand.Most of these children has some other nutritional deficiency like iron defence, calcium and multivitamin deficiency.
Discuss with your doctor for need of supplementation of multivitamin and multi mineral syrup for better growth.

I hope this helps.
Please let me know if you have any more query.
Regards
Above answer was peer-reviewed by : Dr. Vinay Bhardwaj
doctor
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Follow up: Dr. Pradeep Kumar Jain (15 hours later)
Thanks doctor.

His diet is normal where he has 3-4 meals a day.

Also to let you know both my husband and I are lean. I am 30 years old and weigh 42 kgs.

Can the hereditary prevail in my baby too?
doctor
Answered by Dr. Pradeep Kumar Jain (6 hours later)
Brief Answer:
Hereditary prevalence of thin built is unlikely

Detailed Answer:
Thanks for follow up

There are various studies which proves that there is hereditary prevalence of obesity/short stature/cardiovascular risk factors,but hereditary prevalence of thin built is not known.
It has been seen that eating disorder is a significant attributable factor rather than illness or hereditary prevalence.
Although basal metabolic rate differs from person to person but that can be managed with increased caloric intake.Height has significant hereditary prevalence so I would suggest you to monitor the growth of baby(height and weight of baby according to growth chart based on mid parental age).
So again I would request you to increase the caloric intake of yourself and baby both.

Best regards
Note: For further queries related to your child health, Talk to a Pediatrician. Click here to Book a Consultation.

Above answer was peer-reviewed by : Dr. Chakravarthy Mazumdar
doctor
Answered by
Dr.
Dr. Pradeep Kumar Jain

Pediatrician, Cardiology

Practicing since :2006

Answered : 2074 Questions

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What Causes Very Slow Height And Weight Growth In Child?

Brief Answer: Weight of 7.5 kg is much below the normal limit Detailed Answer: Hello Thanks for asking on this platform Weight of 7.5 kg at this age is much below the normal limit. It is good to know that she has achieved the developmental milestones well. I would like to know if her diet is adequate or not,her bowel habit is normal or not. She needs proper physician examination to rule out any underlying disease causing this failure to thrive. I would suggest you to get her evaluated by a pediatrician for complete physical examination . If clinical examination is normal,I would like to increase the frequency and amount of feed.Also add some ghee or butter to meet the caloric demand.Most of these children has some other nutritional deficiency like iron defence, calcium and multivitamin deficiency. Discuss with your doctor for need of supplementation of multivitamin and multi mineral syrup for better growth. I hope this helps. Please let me know if you have any more query. Regards