Underweight teen?

[Anonymous]

I wonder if employing the same strategies typically used for weight loss, but in reverse, could work. Like have a parent download a calorie tracking app on their phone like MyFitnessPal so the actual amount of calories consumed daily and weekly can be accurately tracked. The kid doesn't need to see it. Sometimes with heavier foods kids can feel satiated early into eating because of the fat content, but if they munched through a bag of tortilla chips mindlessly they would be able to consume more total calories because of the lack of satiety from pure carbs. I'd also think about using a BMR (basal metabolic rate) calculator. If you input height, weight, and activity level, it shows the amount of calories needed to maintain, gain, and lose weight. It might be easier if you look at it as a number they need to hit every week as opposed to just vaguely consuming foods and not seeing results.

[Anonymous]

Mine was like that too - very little appetite, and he got nauseated and sometimes vomited if he tried to eat more than he wanted to. And he wanted to eat very little! At 14 he was 6’2” and 140 pounds. At 17 he is 6’4” and 180 - that is 40 hard-earned pounds. Weight lifting with creatine supplement (he is aiming for D1 athletics) helped, but mostly it has been just being really disciplined about eating more. More at each meal, and eating three snacks a day.

He eats protein shakes with peanut butter, ice cream, a candy bar, and multiple glasses of whole milk a day.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I wonder if employing the same strategies typically used for weight loss, but in reverse, could work. Like have a parent download a calorie tracking app on their phone like MyFitnessPal so the actual amount of calories consumed daily and weekly can be accurately tracked. The kid doesn't need to see it. Sometimes with heavier foods kids can feel satiated early into eating because of the fat content, but if they munched through a bag of tortilla chips mindlessly they would be able to consume more total calories because of the lack of satiety from pure carbs. I'd also think about using a BMR (basal metabolic rate) calculator. If you input height, weight, and activity level, it shows the amount of calories needed to maintain, gain, and lose weight. It might be easier if you look at it as a number they need to hit every week as opposed to just vaguely consuming foods and not seeing results.

+1

This is what we're doing with my daughter who's recovering from an ED. Instead of high volume/low calorie like you'd do for weight loss, think low volume/high calorie. Her nutritionist is having her do 3 full meals plus 3 "snacks" that are really more like mini-meals. Liquid calories are great. If something tastes good with peanut butter, add it. Basically turn a diet on it's head and do the opposite.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:My 13 year old son has BMI of 15 which I believe puts him as underweight. His pediatrician said he is mid-puberty and due for his growth spurt soon. She really wants him to try to eat as much as he can so he can achieve his growth potential. He eats 3 normal size meals a day with all the food groups and has a snack or two- but never the ravenous appetite I hear teenage boys having. Never getting seconds. I try to give him smoothies with protein, nuts etc. Many times he’s filled from last meal/snack. Anyone else in same boat? Do some boys just not get a crazy big appetite? If not, will it affect growth?

Have they checked his thyroid with blood work, TSH checked for graves disease?

[Anonymous]

I think some kids are just like this, especially during early-mid puberty stages. I have 3 young teens with this issue and eating habits don’t seem to make even the slightest difference. One eats an absolute TON, one eats normally/pretty average, one eats like a bird and needs prompting/reminders to eat- would happily skip meals and just forget to eat. Their food intake doesn’t seem to make any difference whatsoever- they are all super skinny (not underweight but all 3 are barely in the healthy weight category). Seems to be genes. DH was similar as a teen and it appears they take after him/his side of the family.