Inadequate Nutrition Intake Variation

You said that you were concerned that your child does not eat enough. You may notice that your child sometimes does not seem very hungry. S/he may also be a picky eater. Your child may have a medical problem or illness that makes him/her not feel like eating much. Even though your child doesn't seem to eat much, s/he still weighs enough for his/her height and is growing at a good rate. Your child's eating habits are fairly common in children his/her age. Only children with much bigger problems than your child have an eating problem.

Warning signs that things are getting worse

• Your child stops growing at a rate that is typical for his/her age.
• Your child begins to talk about dieting, goes on a diet, or eats a lot less.

If you think these things are getting worse, talk to your child's doctor even if you have talked about it before.

American Academy of Pediatrics (1996). Diagnostic and Statistical Manual for Primary Care. Elk Grove Village, Illinois: Author.