What are the important tips that you need to know about dealing with unexplained weight loss in kids?

Unexplained weight loss in children could be a matter of stress for the parents. While normal fluctuations in weight are very common as kids grow, any kind of sudden or gradual drop without any clear reason should not be taken very lightly. This can be linked with factors like poor nutrition, underlying medical conditions, stress or changes in activity levels of the kids. So, to rule out any kind of chaotic situation, it is important for you to remain in touch with the best paediatric gastroenterologist in Pune so that everybody will be on the right path to ensuring the healthy growth and development of children.

Practical tips to deal with unexplained weight loss in kids:

1. Monitoring the weight regularly: Regular tracking of the weight will be helpful for the parents to keep a clear track of things and eventually make sure that any kind of unusual trends will be taken into consideration without any problem. Keeping a simple record while noting the date and weight will be very important so that you can easily compare it with other growth charts and eventually discuss the things with Dr very clearly. Looking for a consistent pattern rather than a single fluctuation is another very important thing that you need to take into account so that you can discuss the concerns easily with the doctors based on data.
2. Assessment of eating habits: Sometimes, the cause of weight loss will be very simple in the form of changes in eating habits or skipping of food items. So, you need to make sure that your children are eating healthy food items rather than skipping meals and observing the mealtime behaviour will be very important so that there is no scope for any kind of distractions. Reducing the snacks which are high in sugar but low in nutrients is important because they can be easily replaced with healthy food choices. Involving such options in the daily diet chart will be very important so that kids’ interest will be improved in terms of eating.
3. Providing the kids with nutrient-rich food items: Whenever weight gain is required, every bite will be important, which is the main reason that including calorie-rich food items which are healthy will be highly recommended, so that everything will be very well sorted out and chances of problems will be easily eliminated. Additionally, going for items like avocado, cheese, eggs, and full-fat yoghurt will be very important so that kids can be provided with appropriate nutrition. 
4. Ruling out the food intolerance or allergies: Unexplained weight loss could be due to any kind of allergy or intolerance, for example, lactose intolerance and sensitivity to gluten. This can lead to malabsorption of nutrients, which eventually will lead to weight loss. So, having a clear idea about the accompanying symptoms in this case, including the diarrhoea, bloating or irritation, will be very important and consulting the paediatrician for allergy testing if you suspect any problem is highly recommended for parents. Whenever you are consulting the best pediatrician in gastroenterology, they will undertake a comprehensive evaluation of the things so that everything will be done in the right direction, and you will be able to remain very much aware of the problems faced by kids.
5. Addressing the emotional and psychological factors: In some of the cases, children will also be losing weight due to anxiety, stress or emotional changes, which could be due to bullying at school, family issues or sudden changes in life, which could impact their appetite. So, maintaining open and honest communication with your children about their feelings will be very important and keeping the consistent food providing timing is also very much recommended so that kids will be able to remain positive and free from pressure. Additionally, considering going for professional counselling if required will also be very much recommended, so that things are very well sorted out in the right direction.

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1. Ruling out the medical conditions: Persistent unexplained weight loss can be a clear symptom of conditions like thyroid disorder, diabetes, digestive diseases or infections. So, scheduling the checkup with a paediatrician for detailed evaluation will be very important, and tests like blood work, stool analysis and imaging will be very well recommended to identify the exact cause so that things are very well sorted out without any problem. 
2. Keeping a diary of food as well as symptoms: Regarding what your child is exactly eating and how much they are eating, with symptoms that they are experiencing, will be very important so that doctors can diagnose the reasons very easily. Noting the time when appetite is low and when symptoms are happening is also very important, and additionally, you should include the details about mood, activity levels and sleeping patterns so that the discussion of things will be backed by data-driven insights with Dr without any problem. This will further allow the doctor to provide you with prescribed medication systems very easily, and eventually, you will be on the right path of treatment for your kids.
3. Creating a relaxed atmosphere at your home: Stress during food consumption can lead to significant issues in the form of children eating less, which is the main reason avoiding arguments, scolding and rushing during the meals will be very much important and offering them a variety of food choices in a colourful and fun manner is also very much recommended. Also, establishing a routine of eating the food together as a family will be very much recommended because it will set a positive example on the kids. Doctors at neurology hospital for kids recommend that families cherish the family eating time at least once a day so that everybody can discuss their feelings very easily and eventually will be able to enjoy family Bonding very well.

Conclusion:

Apart from the above-mentioned points, seeking professional help whenever required for the weight concerns of individuals will be very important, so that things are sorted out and nutrition will never be a problem. Early intervention from the house of professionals will always be helpful in preventing health complications, and further, you need to make sure that children are getting appropriate energy, strength and confidence to enjoy their childhood to the fullest. The majority of the children can easily regain weight with appropriate strategies and eventually will be able to maintain balanced growth.