{"id":1607,"date":"2023-08-09T08:43:12","date_gmt":"2023-08-09T08:43:12","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.toplinemd.com\/miami-pediatric-endocrinology\/?p=1607"},"modified":"2023-09-22T09:10:39","modified_gmt":"2023-09-22T09:10:39","slug":"childhood-weight-gain-my-child-is-gaining-weight-too-fast","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.toplinemd.com\/miami-pediatric-endocrinology\/childhood-weight-gain-my-child-is-gaining-weight-too-fast\/","title":{"rendered":"Childhood Weight Gain: My Child Is Gaining Weight Too Fast"},"content":{"rendered":"

While weight gain is an expected part of childhood development, disproportionate and excessive weight gain in children can potentially lead to several health risks. In these cases, it\u2019s important to address why the child is gaining weight fast to avoid what can be a lifelong battle with excess pounds and chronic diseases.<\/span><\/p>\n

As such, in this article, our <\/span>pediatric endocrinology specialists in Miami<\/span><\/a> will talk about childhood weight gain and the ways parents and experts can address the problem of pediatric obesity.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

Children and Gaining Weight: When is Too Much Too Much?<\/b>\u00a0<\/span><\/h2>\n

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Children gain weight, as it is a normal part of growth and development. When parents take their child to their pediatrician, experts will measure their weight, height, and BMI (body mass index) and will compare it with the average numbers on the CDC growth charts for your child\u2019s age group.<\/span><\/p>\n

More specifically, these charts compare your child’s measurements to other kids of the same gender and age in the country.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

In a typical growth chart, a child’s height and weight percentiles are expected to align, meaning that a child positioned on the 50th percentile for height should also correspond to the 50th percentile for weight. When a child’s weight percentile begins to increase beyond their height percentile progressively, it raises a significant red flag, as this trend may indicate a heightened risk of the child developing overweight or childhood obesity.<\/span><\/p>\n

When assessing a child’s body mass index (BMI), the pediatrician typically examines whether it falls within certain percentile ranges to gauge their health status. A BMI below the 85th percentile is indicative of a healthy BMI. If the child’s BMI falls between the 85th and 94.9th percentiles, they are classified as overweight. However, if their BMI surpasses the 95th percentile, it signifies the presence of childhood obesity. These BMI percentiles serve as valuable indicators of a child’s weight relative to their age and height, aiding in the assessment of their overall health.<\/span><\/p>\n

Medical Causes for Excessive Weight Gain in Children<\/b><\/h2>\n

If the child\u2019s body mass indicates that they are overweight or even obese, their pediatrician may recommend further tests to rule out any medical causes for the child gaining weight fast. Typically, they will start by reviewing the child\u2019s familial medical history to rule out any causes of genetic origins and will also review the child\u2019s medications.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

Family History<\/b><\/h3>\n

Regarding family history, parents may be asked the following questions:<\/span><\/p>\n