Your child looks thin or slender. Their weight is more than 20% below the ideal weight for their height. However, your child is well-nourished, with a normal fat tissue layer (8-12 mm). This is measured by a skinfold calipers.
Normal slender children are not actually underweight. They do not need to gain any weight.
True underweight children have a low fat tissue measurement. They do need to gain weight.
Both normal slender children and underweight children can have a low BMI. (BMI is body mass index.) So, BMI is not helpful in understanding these children.
Call or Return If
Your child loses weight
Your child does not gain weight for over 6 months
You and your child argue about food or mealtime becomes a battleground
You think your child needs to be seen
You have other questions or concerns
About This Topic
Cause Your child may have a thin body type or build because:
Your family is naturally thin. One or both parents are thin, but healthy.
Your child has a slender bone structure or frame.
The cause is not eating too little. Your child has a normal diet and gets the right amount of calories.
After Care Advice
What You Should Know about Thin Kids:
Make sure that your child knows that a thin body type is normal and healthy.
Seeing some ribs is healthy. It's called normal slenderness.
Thin kids don't need to see their doctor for this or have any special tests.
Your child doesn't need to gain more weight.
Avoid Pressure to Eat More:
Your child doesn't need more calories.
Eating more calories would add fat, not more muscles or bigger bones.
A healthy child does not need to over-eat.
Trust your child's appetite center in the brain. It will make sure he eats enough calories for normal energy and growth.
Avoid any comments or pressure about eating more.
Keep Mealtime Pleasant:
Serve well balanced meals and make mealtime pleasant.
Talk about fun subjects unrelated to food.
Avoid any comments or criticism about how much your child is eating.
If your child complains about certain foods, or refuses to eat some foods, see the topic about picky eaters.
Special Foods are Not Needed:
Special high calorie drinks or foods are not helpful. Neither are any pills that promise to build muscle or put on weight.
Exercise is Good:
Encourage physical activity for everyone.
This will improve your child's strength, endurance, muscle mass and confidence.
Bully-proof Against Teasing:
Even though children know that they are healthy and look good, some teasing might be expected.
Help your child rehearse a reply, such as "Yep, I'm all muscle and bone, lean and mean".
Author:Barton Schmitt MD, FAAP Copyright
Disclaimer:This health information is for educational purposes only. You the reader assume full responsibility for how you choose to use it.
