Medically reviewed by Karen Gill, M.D. — By Marissa Selner on July 25, 2012
Overview A child is said to have failure to thrive when they don’t meet recognized standards of growth. Failure to thrive isn’t a disease or disorder. Rather, it describes a situation in which a child is undernourished. They either don’t receive or are unable to process enough calories. An example of failure to thrive would be a child who’s persistently below the standard weight range for their age. Typically, a doctor will diagnose failure to thrive during a child’s infant years. A doctor determines a child’s ideal weight range by comparing their weight, height, age, and sex to national averages. Children who fail to thrive usually fall well below their ideal weight. A child may also receive the diagnosis if their growth rate in terms of weight, often along with height, stalls when it should be on an upward trend. Generally, an affected child’s weight falls below the 3rd percentile on standard growth charts. A change in the rate of growth, rather than specific numbers, is also an indicator. For example, if your child has been growing well but their growth stagnates, they may have failure to thrive. Your child may have an unsteady rate of growth. Some children who fail to thrive exhibit the following symptoms: Regular checkups can prevent failure to thrive, or at least catch and address it early. These should begin during your pregnancy and continue through adulthood. Your doctor should regularly plot your child’s growth on growth charts. A child with failure to thrive may be small compared to other children of the same age and sex. Their growth pattern may not be steady. Have regular checkups with a pediatrician to get the most accurate analysis of your child’s growth. Because failure to thrive can lead to permanent mental, emotional, and physical delays, it’s important to have regular checkups so doctors can monitor your child’s health. Tests can help look for a cause and assess the effects of failure to thrive on your child’s health and growth. These may include:
Caregivers may need counseling if the doctor suspects that unhealthy practices in the family are a cause. Ask your doctor for a chart that lists ideal height and weight ranges for children to help monitor your child’s growth. These are recommended for children between the ages of 2 and 20. Treatment options vary depending on the:
Some cases of failure to thrive may be resolvable once a doctor treats the underlying condition. If failure to thrive requires further care, the child’s doctor may prescribe nutritional supplements or a special diet based on the underlying diagnosis. When failure to thrive has a connection to problems at home, your doctor may consult social services. Hospital care, including the use of feeding tubes, can provide extra nourishment in severe cases. After your child’s growth has reached normal levels, they may need help to keep physical and mental growth on track. Specialists who can help your child include:
If your child receives treatment early, they should be able to grow normally, barring any serious medical issues. Failure to thrive that’s not treated can result in long-term complications, including:
If you notice that your child is having difficulty eating, or seems to be losing weight or not gaining weight as you think they should, consult your doctor. Talking to your doctor early on can alleviate your fears and get your child on the road to proper health and nutrition. Last medically reviewed on September 26, 2019
Most people are surprised to learn that the food they eat may affect their breathing. Your body uses food as fuel for all of its activities. The right mix of nutrients in your diet can help you breathe easier. No single food will supply all the nutrients you need—a healthy diet has lots of variety. You and your healthcare team will work out a meal plan just for you. Meeting with a registered dietitian nutritionist (RDN) will help you get on track. Find an RDN who specializes in COPD by asking your doctor or visiting the Academy of Nutrition and Dietetics at EatRight.org. Be sure to mention:
The process of changing food to fuel in the body is called metabolism. Oxygen and food are the raw materials of the process, and energy and carbon dioxide are the finished products. Carbon dioxide is a waste product that we exhale. The right mix of nutrients in your diet can help you breathe easier. Metabolism of carbohydrates produces the most carbon dioxide for the amount of oxygen used; metabolism of fat produces the least. For some people with COPD, eating a diet with fewer carbohydrates and more fat helps them breathe easier.
Choose complex carbohydrates, such as whole-grain bread and pasta, fresh fruits and vegetables.
Limit simple carbohydrates, including table sugar, candy, cake and regular soft drinks. Eat 20 to 30 grams of fiber each day, from items such as bread, pasta, nuts, seeds, fruits and vegetables. Eat a good source of protein at least twice a day to help maintain strong respiratory muscles. Good choices include milk, eggs, cheese, meat, fish, poultry, nuts and dried beans or peas.
Choose mono- and poly-unsaturated fats, which do not contain cholesterol. These are fats that are often liquid at room temperature and come from plant sources, such as canola, safflower and corn oils.
Limit foods that contain trans fats and saturated fat. For example, butter, lard, fat and skin from meat, hydrogenated vegetable oils, shortening, fried foods, cookies, crackers and pastries. Note: These are general nutritional guidelines for people living with COPD. Each person's needs are different, so talk to your doctor or RDN before you make changes to your diet.
Many people find taking a general-purpose multivitamin helpful. Often, people with COPD take steroids. Long-term use of steroids may increase your need for calcium. Consider taking calcium supplements. Look for one that includes vitamin D. Calcium carbonate or calcium citrate are good sources of calcium. Before adding any vitamins to your daily routine, be sure to discuss with your doctor. SodiumToo much sodium may cause edema (swelling) that may increase blood pressure. If edema or high blood pressure are health problems for you, talk with your doctor about how much sodium you should be eating each day. Ask your RDN about the use of spices and herbs in seasoning your food and other ways you can decrease your sodium intake. FluidsDrinking plenty of water is important not only to keep you hydrated, but also to help keep mucus thin for easier removal. Talk with your doctor about your water intake. A good goal for many people is 6 to 8 glasses (8 fluid ounces each) daily. Don't try to drink this much fluid at once; spread it out over the entire day. Some people find it helpful to fill a water pitcher every morning with all the water they are supposed to drink in one day. They then refill their glass from that pitcher and keep track of their progress during the course of the day. Remember, any healthy caffeine-free fluid counts toward your fluid goal, and most foods contribute a substantial amount of fluid, as well. Using medical nutritional productsYou may find it difficult to meet your nutritional needs with regular foods, especially if you need a lot of calories every day. Also, if your RDN has suggested that you get more of your calories from fat—the polyunsaturated, monounsaturated, and low-cholesterol variety—you may not be able to meet this goal easily with ordinary foods. Your RDN or doctor may suggest you drink a liquid called a medical nutritional product (supplement). Some of these products can be used as a complete diet by people who can't eat ordinary foods, or they can be added to regular meals by people who can't eat enough food. Read more on our Each Breath Blog about COPD and Nutrition: Managing Difficulties with Weight Gain
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