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Is It a Behavioral Issue or an Appetite Problem ?
I had seen plenty of poor eaters in my practice, but this one had left me with no doubts that he was the worst amongst all. . With a history of bird’s appetite, this time he was breaking all records. It was nearly three days since he had taken a morsel. It looked as if he had taken recourse to some kind of Satyagraha. Any attempt to feed him forcefully would end up in a vomit. The young parents were nearly on the verge of a breakdown, when on the fourth day he ended his fast.
When kids don’t eat, why is it that they don’t eat? What makes them a poor eater?
The Eating disorders are complex disorders. It could be a simple behavioral disagreement to food or as some Research shows that its origins can have more than one reason – Biopsychosocial. A neurobiological brain disorder with a strong heritability component is also under investigation. Some individuals with eating disorders have an imbalance of certain chemicals in the brain that control hunger, appetite, and digestion. The exact meaning and implications of these imbalances remains under investigation. Behavioral disagreement occurs if the child is force-fed or over -fed.
When kids don’t eat, it can be very distressing for their parents, but is this disorder treatable?
Yes, but first it is important to understand the relationship between the child?s total family environment and his eating disorder. The individuality of each child is an important factor in assessing the most suitable approach for dealing with food refusal. It would simply be illustrated by a case that I treated without any medication. A child of two had developed a very obstinate food refusal. It was assessed that the disorder had no biological angle, but was a case of behavioral disagreement. The mother was feeding the child at an inappropriate time, seven thirty in the morning, as she had to leave for her job by eight, which had resulted in an overall refusal to food. A simple adjustment in the feeding time gave the desired results.
In another case a little one had developed disgust for food after her mother used harsh punishment for not finishing meals in time. Such a situations can become a psychological deterrent and the child may sub consciously develop a contempt for food.
Homoeopathic medicines are very helpful in treating eating disorders.. Antimonium Crudum, Lycopodium, Nux Vomica are a few of the important homoeopathic medicines. Antimonium crudum is very helpful for infants who vomit milk immediately after breast-feed. Some peculiar mind symptoms easily identify the child who requires this medicine along with a very weak appetite he is Cross and contradictive; whatever is done fails to give satisfaction. The little one is Sulky; does not wish to speak. Child cannot bear to be touched or looked and gets angry at every little attention.
Lycopodium has a very strange indication. Although the child may be very hungry, eating ever so little satiates him easily. Nux vomica is often an abused appetite stimulant. Nux should only be used only when it is indicated. It should not be used as an appetite panacea. Homoeopathic medicines should only be used with the advice of an expert homoeopath.
Eating disorder can result out of general ill health as in chronic disorders like asthma and recurrent coughs and colds, also at times a result of over or an improper medication. Such children need to be treated with a constitutional and holistic approach where the root cause is identified and remedied.
The child being referred as ?he? in the above feature is just a grammatical connotation. It does not favour any sex.
Hi my daughter is a very poor eater she is almost 8 years old
Weight 45 pound and barely 48 inch
She has been poor and selective eater all her childhood
We are going to feeding therapy with no effect on her eating habits
She says I don’t have appetite if I eat I become nauseated
When she us hungry she is hungry for specific things like French fries only
She does not like any milk or milk products
Please help me out
Thanks
Dear Dr. Sharma
I am a mother of 10 years old boy. Till date he has not tasted any vegetable, cake , biscuit and is scared of tasting food. His staple diet is 1-2 Roti in a day with curd or jam. He does not like to go to school because he is being forced by his teacher to finish his food. He has never asked for food and always I have to run after him
I am really worried about his health and eating habits. Please suggest if there is a solution to my problem
Thanks
Surbhi
Dear doc
My daughter is 4.6 years old. She is very choosy in eating. She gets very frequent cold and cough.
SheStarts crying for everything and even doesn’t like some one watching her when ever she is doing something.
As she is not eating I scold or scare her and feed many times. Worry it can bring more impact on her food intake,
She gets tired very quickly. Can’t even take out her cycle for a ride. Even when her twin brother is driving cycle she wants to sit at the back of him or just sit and watch him.
But she says, she wants to do gymnastics, and really she was behind us to find a coach for her. We found one . From a month she is going for the coaching but she is not having the stamina and stiff mess to perform.
How can I give her better food. Make her little strong and build stamina in her.
Not knowing what to do.
Plz need your advise
my daughter is 2.8 years old. she z the most fussy child in eating. she z not ready to eat if u give her fav food. she eats wen she has mood but only eat that much to cover her appetite. she never finish her food.
her school teachers also wondered for seeing her hungry BT not ready to eat. bb
Respected sir..
I am having one kid with 3yrs old. But my problem is he can’t eat anything. He is suffering with constitution. In the morning he take only 2/3 spoon rice with cow milk.. In midday he drinks 250ml mosombi juice.. 5pm take 4/5 spoon rice with cow milk.. At night same.
He doesn’t eat dal veg meat fish egg anything.. But he loves Maggi too much.. Sometimes he eat 3times Maggi per day with full plate.. But I know it’s not right for him.. Please what can I do tell me sir.
Hi doctor,
My little one is 14month old girl . She is not breastfed their was no supply of milk. She is very light in weight 7.5 kg n also very light to carry. She is always suffering from heavy cold n cough. Vomits a lot. Also doesn’t eat properly never ask fr food. Her cold n cough let her down every time n effect her health weight a lot. Is their something which can built her immune strong.which put her little weight .
Hello Doctor Sharma. My pediatrician informed me that my six year old daughter is 4kg underweight. She was a chubby baby up till starting solid foods, born at 50th percentile and increased up to 60th with breast milk only, but then slowly slipping in percentile till she went off the chart. She eats very little, even when she said she was hungry or even when she asked for that particular food. She likes most fruits, meat, dal, and pizzas and pastas without toppings, but doesnt eat in sufficient quantity. She wont eat any vegetables except cucumber and will eat a couple bites of carrot when pushed. She will not try new foods and becomes extremely upset when pushed to do so, to the point of gagging and occasionally vomits. She has a slight allergy with milk which causes stomach ache at time of pooping if not avoided, as well as decreased appetite. She also gets headaches few times a week, caused mostly by stress or heat I think. She is average height and intelligent. She is quite lazy, asking other family members to do things she should do for herself and cries when asked to do “too much” which is only a slight inconvenience. She is very weak obviously and she broke her colar bone when she fell off the bed last year. I try to give her vitamins but she sometimes sneaks them to her brother (who thinks they’re candy). She loves reading and swinging. Sorry for so much info, but I think it helps to get the right medicine. Please suggest me what to give her, we have many homeopathic remedies at home and can get anything necessary. Thank you very much!
Hi doctor I’m sonia I hve 2.4 years daughter. She dont eat properly she’s 11 kg. My great problem with her is she dnt chew the food she keeps in the mouth . she times I give her semi solid for mixed in soup and rasam she eats but too she takes long time atleadt 2 to 3 hours. I hve consulted many doctor’s bt no use vit any medicine. Pls help me what can her to increase her weight and appetite.
I have a 5 year daughter who does not eat anything . she never feel hungry. She have a problem of tonsils and adenoid. And constant cough .her urin is yellow. Plz suggest some medicine
I have a 4 yr old boy is about 2 to 3 weeks he is not eating the same. He is eating poorly, he don’t want to eat at all, is not him he eats everything. I don’t know what to do. Fruits, vegetables, meat, seafood he eats everything. I want to know what can I do so he could eat like before.
hello doc
My daughter is 18 months old and she is not eating anything. I’m tired of feeding her all the time. from the time of birth she used to spit up the milk. her stomach is protuded. I consulted many doctors for her feeding problem from birth. at the the time of her weight was 3.200kg and now her weight is 10kg aplz suggest me some medicines for her.
thank u..
hello doc
My daughter is 18 months old and she refuses to eat everything. I’m tired of feeding her all the time. from the time of birth she used to spit up the milk. her stomach is protuded. I consulted many doctors for her feeding problem from birth. at the the time of her weight was 3.200kg and now her weight is 10kg aplz suggest me some medicines for her.
thank u..
My Daughter is 6 yrs old, 14 kg wait only . She is not taking proper food . she is not say that i m hungry.
Please suggest what should i do?
my daughter is 2.4 years, but her weight is 6kg only and height is 65 cm what is the treatment?
My son is not eating he eats only bread and fast foods . What can I do
My little grandchild she is never hungry .she didn’t want to try a new food she sticks to this very few food she eat like a bird thankyou if you can help
My 6.5 yr daughter is only 16 kg and average height but very lean and thin. She doesn’t want to have any food. Her very favourite food also(pizza ) she eat only 2 portion. She is very active also.
What is your advice?
Thanks
Subesh
My 10 yr son is only 22 kg and average height but very lean and thin. She doesn’t want to have any food. His very favourite food also(pizza ) he eat only 2 portion. he is very active also.
What is your advice?
Thanks
yogesh
Hi dr sharma.. i m a mother of 2 year baby girl.. her weight is just 9.6kgs frm last 6-7 months.. she is big fussy eater.. she only loves food in a liquid form.. she dont want to eat anythng nt even a chapatti.. she dont eat any fruit nt chicken nothing.. really worried abt her.. pls tell me sumthng to increase her appitite so tht she feels hungry and eat everythng.. pls help me out..
Hello Madam I am Francis I have son 4 yr old he is 7 month child and he is so thin his weight is 11 kgs i am very concern about my son please suggest me what should i do. but he is so intellegent he is reading in prep class and he his so much active. but my concern is related to weight and health
please suggest me what should i do.
Thanks
9213310924
My child is of 12 year old . Every time when its time for break fast of luch . He refuseses to eat. I m feeding with my hand since very long . And now i want him to eat with his own hamd and i wamt him to say mama give me food i m hungry. Amd he should food with his own hand. Pl suggest me what should i do.
HAND FEEDING YOUR 12 YEAR OLD? STOP IT AND LET HIM GO HUNGRY. LEAVE A VARIETY OF FOOD AND AND LET HIM EAT OR LEAVE IT.
HE WONT STARVE TO DEATH.
THE PROBLEM IS YOU AND NOT HIM
Hi Dr. Sharma, I’m mother of 16 months Twin girl babies. They are 9.7 kgs each (my pediatrician says it is good weight, and they will have problem with their food until 3 yrs) but i worried about their food intake.
At times they eat whatever I feed them and at times they reject similar food next time (i don’t feed same food very next day – as they might get bored with same food).
Also, if they like some food they take first 4 to 5 spoons very fast and interestingly and they do not want to eat further.
After taking few suggestions, I have limited the amount of milk and number of times of feeding milk however i did not find any big change in their eating.
They take their own time to take food inside stomach from mouth. They can keep food inside their mouth for 5-6 mins and either they take inside stomach or they spit. It will take me 1 hour to feed each baby.
I’m really worried and loosing patience. Kindly advise, if Homeopathy can help me or is it common and nothing can be done until they are 3 yrs.