Children's appetite worries parents more than the child. Moreover, they greet an increase in appetite with joy, but a decreased demand for food - with caution. Quite often, parents confuse the concepts of hunger and appetite. Appetite is a broader concept that is not limited to physiological factors. This is a selective manifestation of hunger. It changes depending on the emotional state and preferences. Long-term loss of interest in food leads to dehydration, anorexia and the formation of ketone bodies. Therefore, it is important for parents to monitor their teenager’s nutrition.

Lack of appetite in teenagers most often occurs due to hormonal changes, as well as due to:

• anxiety;
• infections;
• problems at school;
• season changes;
• various kinds of diseases.

In case of prolonged refusal to eat and ignoring this problem, the child faces exhaustion, drowsiness, dehydration and excessive weight loss. Diseases such as iron deficiency anemia (iron deficiency) and (complete refusal to eat) may develop.

In this article we will talk about the reasons for lack of appetite in teenagers and how dangerous it is. You will also learn what to exclude and what to add to your usual diet to increase your appetite.

What could be the reasons

The most common are pathological and psychological.

Pathological causes

Infections: intestinal tract when infected with worms or oral infection. There may also be no appetite while taking medications taken to treat the infection.

Diseases: chickenpox, low thyroid hormone levels, measles or rubella in a child can cause a lack of appetite due to the symptoms of the disease: itching, poor sleep, fever, vomiting, anxiety. High temperature during flu, colds, and allergies is also a common cause of decreased appetite.

Psychological

Psychological condition: influence of friends, relationships at school and at home. Watch your child, talk to him. Is everything okay at school? Are there any reasons why he might feel depressed or upset? Perhaps the new team or the girl (boy) you like is causing concern. It is possible that the lack of appetite is due to an attempt to attract your attention.

If you observe that a teenager often refuses to eat, you should not forget about such factors as the change of season, sleep disturbances, the postoperative period, and dietary habits.

Ways to increase

Lack of appetite in an adult is usually a consequence of the disease. In adolescents, most often this is due to age.

Finding the right foods can solve the problem rather than mindlessly pushing food into your baby. It's best to simply monitor the number of calories your teen consumes.

Instead of immediately resorting to drug treatment or forcing your child to eat (which will only worsen the problem), use this list of useful tips that can increase your son or daughter’s appetite.

Include vitamins in your teenager's diet

The lack of vitamins threatens many problems, including loss of appetite. They are neither classified as nutrients nor as plastic substances. But they are necessary for metabolic processes in the body. If you do not saturate your body with vitamins, you can give rise to obesity. It is better to give preference to natural vitamins - from fruits and vegetables. A vitamin complex is also a kind of chemistry. The main helpers will be B vitamins, vitamin D, as well as calcium, iron and zinc.

Sources of these vitamins:

Eliminate junk food from your child's diet

All types of fast food should be excluded from a teenager’s diet. They contain empty calories. The body does not receive any benefit from such food. It is also worth limiting sweets: chocolate, pastries, confectionery. Fats help increase appetite, but in this case it is impossible to improve the situation by all means.

Teach your teenager to eat 3-4 meals a day.

Introduce appetite-enhancing foods into your diet

Fruits:

orange grapefruit, lemon, apricot, pomegranate, peach, apple, pomegranate;

Berries:

fruits of rowan, blackberry, cranberry, barberry;

Herbs:

calamus root, wormwood;

Juices:

freshly squeezed and packaged.

Use spices

Include the following seasonings in his diet:

• basil;
• dill;
• hot red pepper;
• Bay leaf;
• horseradish;
• mustard;
• curry.

You should be careful with bay leaves and hot spices. The load on the pancreas increases.

Phytocomplexes

Consult your doctor about any allergies or contraindications your child has to the composition of herbal drinks.

All of the above products are consumed in a tablespoon no more than four times a day 30 minutes before meals.

Recipe 1.

You will need:

• Parsley seeds 0.5 tsp.
• Cold water 200 ml

Mix everything, heat, but do not boil. Take after cooling.

Recipe 2.

You will need:

• Crushed anise fruit 1 tsp
• Boiling water 1⁄4 l

Leave the infusion for 40 minutes.

Recipe 3.

• Dried wormwood 1 tsp
• Boiled water 200 ml

Pour boiled water over the dried wormwood and leave for 30 minutes.

Recipe 4.

Prepare:

• Dry or fresh raspberries 2 tsp.
• Boiling water 200 ml

Pour 200 ml of boiled water over the berries and leave for 30 minutes.

Before using phytocomplexes, you should consult your pediatrician. Herbal infusions can cause allergies.

Provide physical activity

It has not been scientifically proven that physical activity increases appetite. But doctors unanimously recognize this effect. Physical activity will be useful not only for improving your food situation, but also for your overall health.

A professional approach to training will certainly lead to the concept of a carbohydrate window. This is 30-40 minutes after exercise, when the body most needs to replenish energy reserves. But here everything depends on the type of load. It is not appropriate to immediately stuff your child with food after training.

The optimal duration of the lesson is at least 45 minutes. After which the body begins to actively burn calories. To replenish which you will need a snack.

Dishes decoration

90% of information comes to a person through the visual channel. The beauty of the presentation of the dish also determines the level of desire to eat it. Marketers at McDonald's, Burger King and MOS Burger use red in their company logos. It is believed to increase the desire to eat more. But this is only partly true. Red color stimulates human activity and forces him to act. That is, a person can buy more, but not eat.

Frequently asked questions and answers

The teenager does not eat anything, what is the reason?

If you are sure that your child is healthy, then refusal to eat may be a consequence of childhood experiences or a psychological state. Teenagers are often afraid of gaining weight. Or they have already faced bullying at school because of their fatness. Refusal to eat may be a sign of anorexia. Sometimes teenagers try to protest - they refuse to eat in order to defend their rights, prove something to their parents, or insist on their own (TV and the Internet influence such decisions). It is necessary to analyze exactly how family dinners take place. Sometimes the atmosphere is so difficult that it is better for the child to refuse food than to endure ridicule or nagging. Especially if parents are used to sorting things out during meals. It can also be affected by the fact that the teenager snacks at school or in public catering establishments, so that when he returns home he no longer feels hungry.

Why do teenagers eat a lot?

Let's start with the reasons caused by shortcomings in upbringing. For example, a teenager has too much free time at home, he has nothing to occupy himself with. He watches TV, plays games, stays at home for a long time without the necessary activity, and leads a sedentary lifestyle. Therefore, he begins to snack on what is at hand. This ends with obesity, passivity, and decreased interest in life. Increased appetite, especially in boys, is observed in those who actively engage in sports (swimming, boxing, running) and attend clubs. So the portion may be larger than that of peers. There is no need to sound the alarm if the child spends all the calories he receives and eats healthy food. Try to cook for him yourself. If you notice a sharp increase in appetite, you should check your teenager for the presence of helminths.

Why do teenagers always want to eat?

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Appetite is the emotional manifestation of the body’s physiological need for nutrients and the desire to consume certain foods. Decreased and loss of appetite is manifested by complete or partial refusal to eat.

Hunger and appetite should not be confused. From a medical point of view, these are different, although interrelated, concepts. The feeling of hunger is a reflex that manifests itself when special centers of the brain are excited against the background of the absence or insufficient supply of nutrients to the body.

The main signs of hunger are nagging discomfort in the sublingual area and in the projection of the stomach (“in the pit of the stomach”), as well as an increase in the secretory activity of the salivary glands (excessive salivation). Appetite is a selective manifestation of hunger, depending on individual preferences, emotional state and a number of other factors.

Causes of loss of appetite

It is customary to distinguish the following types of changes in appetite:

• complete loss of appetite ();
• partial reduction;
• change in taste preferences.

Causes of loss of appetite in children include:

Loss of appetite in a child is often one of the symptoms of the so-called. “seasonal” diseases – and. In the acute period, you should not force feed the patient, since in this situation incomplete digestion of food is possible. A child's refusal to eat may be the first clinical manifestation of low-quality foods or medications. Not excluded (, etc.), which require hospitalization in the infectious diseases department of the hospital.

Loss of appetite often indicates the presence of serious autoimmune diseases and pathologies of the liver and hepatobiliary system. If loss of appetite is accompanied by dyspeptic disorders (belching), there is reason to suspect the development or exacerbation of diseases of the gastrointestinal tract. In such cases, you need to seek help from a gastroenterologist who will prescribe the necessary tests and draw up a treatment plan.

When, in addition to loss of appetite, a child experiences drowsiness and sleepiness, there is reason to suspect endocrine diseases - in particular (decreased functional activity of the thyroid gland). In such cases, a consultation with an endocrinologist, an ultrasound scan of the thyroid gland and a test are required. It helps to identify pathological processes in the pituitary gland and (or) hypothalamus.

Metabolic disorders often develop against the background of growth. Already in the early stages, the patient’s sense of taste changes and there is a loss of appetite. Refusal from eating meat should be especially alarming. If there are certain signs of a tumor, the patient is referred for examination to an oncologist.

In neuropsychiatric disorders, a decrease or complete loss of appetite () is one of the leading clinical signs. The process of eating does not give the patient pleasure, the food seems tasteless, and rapid satiety appears. Even small portions of food cause an unpleasant feeling of heaviness and fullness in the stomach, as well as nausea. In such cases, consultation and treatment with a psychotherapist or neurologist is required.

Note:Anorexia nervosa is most often diagnosed in young girls with an unjustified desire to lose weight. With this pathology, an aversion to food gradually develops. Often, severe exhaustion develops against the background of anorexia, in severe cases accompanied by irreversible changes in the body. If there is a complete loss of appetite, long-term treatment in a hospital may be required.

Loss of appetite (usually a more or less pronounced decrease) may well be a variant of the norm, i.e., it is not always a sign of somatic diseases or nervous disorders. Children's need for food changes at different stages of development. It is determined by the intensity of growth, energy costs and hormonal levels.

Important:Studies of eating behavior in children have shown that every fifth child aged 4-5 years is picky about food. In some of them, this feature persists for up to 9-10 years.

Decreased or loss of appetite in children

In children under 3 years of age, loss of appetite is often associated with, which is accompanied by severe local discomfort and a deterioration in general well-being.

A child, as a rule, refuses to eat if he develops an infection of the mucous membranes of the oral cavity (). Inflammation and the formation of numerous ulcers makes the process of eating painful.

Often the cause of a decrease or loss of appetite is forced feeding “by the clock.” Eating “by force”, when with low energy consumption, hunger has not yet appeared, can even lead to the formation of a negative attitude towards certain foods. You cannot force a child to eat with encouragement or threats - appetite must develop independently.

Note:Children's taste preferences sometimes change literally every day. The food that he eats with pleasure today may cause disgust in the baby tomorrow.

Loss of appetite is possible if the baby is not accustomed to eating in accordance with a certain regimen.

Refusal to eat is a common occurrence when snacking between main meals. Perhaps all parents know that sweets and starchy foods (“fast” carbohydrates) worsen appetite. You should not be surprised if your baby, having eaten a bun or chocolate shortly before lunch, refuses soup.

Nervous overstimulation or excessive fatigue can also affect appetite.

What to do if children lose appetite?

When a child regularly refuses to eat or eats with visible reluctance, it is first of all important to exclude the presence of nervous or somatic pathologies. In their absence, important attention is paid to the formation of a daily routine and nutrition, ensuring that the diet is complete and varied.

How can parents help?

When a child, in the absence of serious illnesses, limits his diet on his own, there is no need to worry that he will go hungry.

Average age requirements of a growing body in kilocalories:

• 3-5 years – 1500;
• 5-8 years – 1800;
• 8-12 years old - 2000;
• 12-16 years old – 2400.

Important:an excess amount of calories can cause a set of extra pounds and, which is increasingly diagnosed in children nowadays.

Some parents believe that a well-fed child with a weight slightly above the average for his age needs more calories than his thin peers. This is fundamentally wrong. Thinness is evidence that all calories received from food are burned. In overweight children who are prone to quiet games, the need for food may be noticeably less. You can often observe how a round-cheeked baby by the age of 9-10 begins to “stretch out” and there is no trace of fullness left.

Appetite, as a rule, increases significantly during the period of active growth and puberty. In parallel with changes in hormonal levels, a restructuring of all types of metabolism occurs. The adequacy of nutrition is determined not by the amount of food consumed, but by the rate of growth and development of the child and the degree of nutrition.

Note:At different periods of life, children do not grow quite evenly, and their calorie needs change accordingly. From birth to 3-4 years, the period of “first fullness” continues, and then the vast majority begin a “half-height growth spurt,” and children, as a rule, go into first grade slim and thin.

To improve appetite, the child needs to be offered a variety of foods, avoiding the so-called. "food conservatism"

It is necessary to regulate children's energy expenditure whenever possible. To improve appetite, a child needs regular walks in the fresh air, active games and physical education and sports. If he spends most of his time at the computer or in front of the TV, it should not be surprising that his need for food decreases.

A good remedy for loss of appetite in a child is a clear example. It is recommended to have lunch and dinner with the whole family. It is important that parents enjoy eating the same dishes that are offered to their children.

The baby should eat in a calm environment, without being distracted by external stimuli. He should not be allowed to eat in front of the TV.

If your child gets hungry between meals, offer him or her dried fruit. These foods will not suppress your appetite, but will help you cope with hunger.

Feeding time should be limited to 20-30 minutes, and if you refuse a particular food - 15 minutes.

Poor appetite: which doctor should I contact?

If there is a persistent decrease or loss of appetite, it is necessary to show the baby to a pediatrician. It may be necessary to consult specialists.

If your baby appears sick, tired, or simply not energetic enough, you may need to be tested by:

• nutritionist;
• endocrinologist;
• psychologist;
• neurologist;
• gastroenterologist.

It is possible that treatment of the underlying disease is required to normalize appetite. A good reason to consult a doctor is the delay in the child’s growth and development, as well as his poor general health.

If pathologies of the digestive system are diagnosed, the child is prescribed a diet (in accordance with the specific identified disease), which will have to be followed for a long time. For any diseases of the gastrointestinal tract, meals should be fractional, that is, relatively frequent (6 or more times a day) and in small portions.

Folk remedies for normalizing appetite

To increase appetite, you can use folk recipes - decoctions and infusions of medicinal herbs.

Note: Before giving your child herbal medicines, be sure to consult with your pediatrician to determine the presence of contraindications and the likelihood of allergic reactions.

Recipe 1

2 tsp. dry or fresh raspberries, pour 200 ml of boiled water and leave for 30 minutes. If there is loss of appetite, the child should be given 100 ml of infusion 4 times a day before meals.

Recipe 2

Pour 200 ml of water 2 tsp. dry crushed dandelion root and leave for 10-12 hours. The infusion should be taken 50 ml 3-4 times a day 30 minutes before meals.

Recipe 4

Brew 1 tsp. dried herb wormwood 200 ml of boiling water and leave for 30 minutes. The infusion should be taken 1 tsp. in 15-20 minutes. before meals three times a day.

Recipe 5

½ tbsp. l. dry cornflower flowers, pour a glass of boiled water, leave for 15 minutes, cool and strain. If you lose your appetite, it is recommended to drink 50 ml of infusion over 15-30 minutes. before meals.

Recipe 6

½ tsp. parsley seeds, pour 200 ml of cold water, put on fire and heat for half an hour, without bringing to a boil. Cool and strain the finished infusion. It is recommended to give the drug to a child 1 tbsp. l. 4-5 times a day before meals.

A good appetite is a sign of a healthy body, and for good reason, because in the presence of any diseases, as well as under the influence of various environmental factors, stress, pregnancy, etc., appetite may decrease and even disappear completely.

Causes of lack of appetite in a child

Depending on the age of the child, these reasons may vary. In infants, refusal to eat can be caused by a change in the taste of milk, its intolerance, the uncomfortable structure of the mother's nipple, as well as abdominal pain and diseases of the nose and throat. There is cause for concern if loss of appetite is accompanied by fever, vomiting, or poor weight gain.

In children aged one year and older loss of appetite can be caused by infectious diseases (in particular, influenza and intestinal infections), as well as helminthic infestations. The child’s appetite and psycho-emotional state are affected by changes in the environment and lack of physical activity.

At this age, food refusal may also occur due to its insufficiently attractive taste and due to force feeding. You should consult a specialist if your child loses weight, has an increase in body temperature, or has vomiting or diarrhea. In some cases, to increase appetite it is necessary to increase physical activity.

No appetite during pregnancy

With significant decreased appetite Women often encounter this problem while carrying a child. In the first trimester of pregnancy, appetite most often disappears due to early toxicosis, accompanied by nausea and vomiting. At later stages, when the woman no longer feels sick, the lack of appetite can be explained by the pressure of the enlarged uterus on the stomach and intestines, which leads to satiety with less food and a slowdown in metabolic processes.

Also, the reason for decreased appetite may be a lack of folic acid, iron and vitamin B9 in the body. You can compensate for iron deficiency by eating several apples a day, and folic acid deficiency by consuming this substance in tablet form (but only after consulting a doctor).

Poor appetite in a teenager

If a teenager has lost his appetite, this may be due to the presence of intestinal or other infections. The alarm should be sounded if a decrease in appetite is accompanied by an increase in temperature or other symptoms of the disease (nausea, vomiting, etc.). Often in adolescents, the reasons for lack of appetite lie in the emotional sphere, since the period of growing up, accompanied by changes in the body (including hormonal ones) and adaptation to new living conditions, causes stress and provokes the occurrence of depression. In addition, recently children have often experienced a decrease in food requirements due to insufficient physical activity.

Little or capricious? Is he afraid or just doesn’t like him? Is he protesting or has he never been hungry? We talk to a psychologist about why children may have no appetite

Photo: Mikhail FROLOV

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“A spoon for mom, a spoon for dad... Eat the porridge, otherwise you won’t grow up... If you don’t eat, we won’t allow you to watch the cartoon...” With persuasion, threats, tricks, songs and dances, parents try to feed their little ones. According to research, from 20 to 60 percent of preschool and school-age children have nutrition problems. More than half of 4-5 year old children are considered to have little food, and among nine-year-olds, 48 ​​percent of children eat poorly.

Eating problems in childhood can lead to impaired growth and eating disorders in the future, and learning difficulties cannot be avoided. Why don't they eat? Some people don’t need much, some are bored or anxious at the table, some get on their mother’s nerves, and some can’t do without the help of a neurologist. Together with psychologist Natalya Petrovna GRISHAEVA Let's try to figure out what problems can deprive a child of his appetite?

REASON 1 Classic little one. He is thin, just like his parents. And he simply doesn’t need a lot of food. WHAT TO DO: Monitor your weight, consult with your pediatrician, and try to “put” all the necessary vitamins into that small amount of food.

REASON 2 Protest. The most common reason. Even adults express their protest by going on a hunger strike. The subtext is simple - I will die if you don't do what I want. Children have similar blackmail - pay attention to me! But the reasons for protest may be different: - The child attracts attention. Perhaps there is a difficult situation in the family - mom and dad are fighting, or there is a divorce, or the parents are always at work and devote too little time to the child. “I’ll stop eating and they’ll notice me.” - The child is adored and pampered in the family. He is capricious, selfish and is used to the fact that he can behave as badly as he likes and still be forgiven. But children have such a feeling as internal justice. And in the child’s soul he wants attention to be paid to his pranks, so that everything will be “like people” - if he is guilty, he will be punished. He knows that parents cannot forgive such disobedience as refusing to eat. - In the family, the heir is treated too strictly or even cruelly. They forbid him everything, they scold him for everything. How can a child punish his parents? In my own ways - not sleeping, wearing my pants or not eating.

WHAT TO DO: Don’t be scared, don’t beg, don’t do everything he asks, don’t threaten, but figure out why the child is protesting? What's wrong?

REASON 3 The child is not comfortable at the table Maybe he is forced to eat with a knife and fork or is constantly scolded for eating ugly or sloppy. Maybe someone at the table is slurping, and it’s just unpleasant for the baby to watch - the appetite disappears. Maybe at the table mom and dad usually start to sort things out.

WHAT TO DO: Take care of yourself and put aside all quarrels, do not scold the baby when he sniffles, but praise him when he holds the fork beautifully. If your child is uncomfortable eating with someone who is squishy, ​​feed him separately, no problem. And don’t scold the little one if he spills himself or gets dirty - it’s better to put an apron on the eater in advance, cover his knees with a napkin - let him enjoy the taste of food without worrying about the rules of etiquette.

REASON 4 I'm used to eating with entertainment While the child picks pasta on a plate, dramas and comedies are played out at the table, performed by mom, dad, grandparents. Songs, dances, puppet theater, cutlets are drawn on the board and crossed out with each bite taken. The child gets used to being entertained, and simply eating is no longer interesting to him. The same with cartoons. Of course, it’s easier for parents when a child, staring at the TV, eats everything away without looking. For children, the process of eating may seem boring - they have to sit, they have to try to use spoons and forks, it seems to them that they are just wasting time, and it is much more fun to “waste” it watching cartoons.

WHAT TO DO: Do not distract from food and do not eat in front of the TV. It’s better to chat during lunch or dinner, come up with a ritual, for example, you tell each other about your best moments of the day at the table, or give each other advice. Doctors are confident that it is important not to be distracted from food so that it is properly digested and you get all the energy you need.

REASON 5 Fear As a rule, these are neurotic reactions caused by some events that frightened the child while eating. For example, a fish bone got stuck in the throat or the baby vomited while eating something, etc. The child may not remember what exactly scared him, but the “sediment” remains. WHAT TO DO: Don't force, don't shame, don't scold. Understand, look for the reason. And then, it is advisable to get rid of fear together with a neuropsychiatrist.

REASON 6 It's not tasty Such children are called capricious, but perhaps they only eat familiar food - pasta and sausages or potatoes and chicken... When arriving at a hotel or visiting someone, the baby does not find his food and may refuse any other. WHAT TO DO: Try to regularly introduce your baby to new products from childhood. Don’t bring sausages with you when visiting, look for a compromise. Patiently and playfully. Invite your child to look in the refrigerator and choose his own food. If he doesn’t like vegetables, make a puree soup, try cutting out figures from cucumbers and carrots, you can turn fruits into cocktails, come up with funny names for everything, and involve even the smallest gourmet in cooking. Very often, children agree to try a new unfamiliar dish at a party when everyone else eats it with appetite.

REASON 7 Doesn't eat to please mom Sometimes it happens. For example, it’s time for mom to go to work, but she doesn’t want to, and she says this: “I can’t send Petya to kindergarten, he DOESN’T EAT ANYTHING, I’ll have to sit at home with him.” And Petya shakes his head and does not eat, as his mother “programmed”. Or another option - the mother wants to show everyone that her child is special. WHAT TO DO: Parents must deal with their own fears and complexes.

REASON 8 The family has a cult of food Meals in your home are given too much importance. Mom is preparing dinner and it's an event. The child hasn't eaten? Catastrophe! Have you eaten? Happiness! The baby quickly understands that since food is so important, he can control his parents with the help of what he ate or didn’t eat. WHAT TO DO: Don’t pay so much attention to whether the child is full or not, don’t turn lunches and dinners into events. Snack on the road, sometimes skip meals, like all normal people.

REASON 9 Never been hungry The child does not understand that food can bring joy, he has never been hungry, has never waited for lunch, or dreamed of soup, because his parents are constantly pushing food into him before he gets hungry. WHAT TO DO: Try not to feed the baby. Accept his refusals to eat. Wait until he asks for food. Or create an unexpected situation - an empty refrigerator, nothing to cook for dinner. There are only, for example, potatoes. The child will want to eat and learn to appreciate the simplest dishes.

Despite the child’s age, loss of appetite is an alarm and a cause for concern for parents. “My child doesn’t eat well” - perhaps this phrase remains relevant. It is also necessary to understand the cause of lack of appetite when making some diagnoses. Each case is individual, and sometimes it is not easy to figure out: a child is naughty or sick, and what needs to be done to increase appetite.

Mechanism of the problem

Appetite- this is a desire, the desire to satisfy the need for food, as well as the person’s pleasure from eating food. The emergence of appetite favors the constant provision of the body with nutrition and microelements. Lack of desire to eat occurs for several reasons. To understand the issue in more detail, let’s consider the mechanism of appetite.

Appetite arises due to the productive work of brain structures, because the food center is located here. The cerebral cortex and hypothalamus are responsible for processing information about incoming food, as well as the amount of energy consumed by the body and the frequency of its replenishment.

Appetite arises even before the feeling of hunger, as a reason for eating and to improve digestion (the mechanism of salivation, secretion of gastric juice), which improves the functioning of the digestive system. An excellent appetite indicates good health and well-coordinated functioning of the body.

What to do if your child has poor appetite

We can talk about problems with eating behavior in children when there is a complete refusal to eat or when there is a decrease in appetite. If the baby does not want to eat, you need to identify the cause and factors that cause loss of appetite.

Factors responsible for appetite

• The rate of metabolism in the body and the concentration of metabolic products in the blood
• The degree of absorption of nutrients entering the body
• Volume of fat reserves in the body
• Lack of water in the body
• Temperature of the human body and the environment
• External stimuli: type of food, time of eating, smell of food

Metabolic products, especially the concentration of glucose in the blood, are a significant factor affecting appetite. It is easy to raise the sugar level sharply; all it takes is for the child to eat a chocolate bar or drink a sweet soda. This method is not the best way to maintain appetite at the proper level, as it entails other health problems in the child: hyperrexia and bulimia, disruption of the food center. To find ways out of the situation, you need to find the reason for the decrease or lack of appetite.

Why does the child have no appetite?

Let's be clear: the child does not want or cannot eat? Oddly enough, the desire of parents to feed the baby is great, even when he is full.

If, nevertheless, the child has not eaten for a long time, but refuses to eat, then it is worth understanding the problem. Ukrainian pediatrician, E.O. Komarovsky gives the following possible cases as an example:

1. The food is simply tasteless, sour or bitter, a lot of salt, pepper, seasonings
2. Food is too hot or cold
3. The supply of food is difficult (the nipple does not fit the baby, the sippy cup is clogged or, as an option for infants, the “tight breast” of the nursing mother)
4. Oral pain in children (a common occurrence in early childhood is stomatitis and thrush)
5. Teething
6. Problems associated with the intestines (constipation, increased gas formation, leading to painful sensations)
7. Difficulty breathing (nasal congestion, swelling of the mucous membrane)

If the listed factors are eliminated, but appetite does not appear, then most likely this is a symptom or consequence of the disease.

Issue of the School of Dr. Komarovsky “I don’t want to eat”

Poor appetite in a child after an infection

After illnesses suffered by a child (acute respiratory infections, flu, sore throat, rotavirus infection), the recovery period is not limited to a few days. The body spends a lot of energy fighting viruses and bacteria, and the immune system is weakened. At this time, children experience a loss of strength, decreased appetite and motor activity. Depending on the severity of the disease, the recovery period takes up to two weeks.

Vitamins (especially A, C, group B) and microelements (iron, iodine, selenium) lost during illness will help the child’s body quickly recover. Vitamin and mineral complexes, the choice of which is made on the recommendation of a doctor, will help fill the deficiency.

Problems due to vitamin deficiency

Insufficient vitamin content, as mentioned above, provokes loss of appetite in a child. These can be either seasonal phenomena or constant shortages. To determine specific missing vitamins and microelements, blood tests should be taken, and if vitamin deficiency is confirmed, the doctor will prescribe appropriate treatment and diet for the child.

Due to poisoning

Symptoms of intoxication make themselves felt for a long time, even if the acute phase of poisoning has passed. Ailments characteristic of poisoning - vomiting, diarrhea, fever - lead to dehydration of the child’s body much faster than in adults. In addition, substances necessary for the body are lost. As a result, after poisoning, the child feels weakness, abdominal pain and nausea, and loses appetite.

To normalize the condition, you need to drink plenty of water; water will remove poisonous substances and toxins from the body. It is recommended to follow a diet and a regimen of fractional meals. There is no need to panic if a child refuses to eat for a day; during the recovery period, the stomach is irritated and fasting will only be beneficial. Food should be given gradually, in small doses. Healthy foods include porridge (rice, oatmeal or buckwheat), chicken broth, croutons, dietary turkey or rabbit meat, and fruit puree.

As a symptom of illness

In the case where the child does not have symptoms of infection or poisoning, there is a possibility of an illness that causes a decrease in appetite. Diseases with this symptom primarily include:

• Diseases of the gastrointestinal tract (stomach ulcer, rotavirus, salmonellosis, shigellosis, appendicitis, etc.)
• Endocrine disorders (decreased functions of the thyroid gland, pituitary gland, hypothalamus)
• Metabolic disorders (especially in oncology)
• Mental disorders (neurosis, depression)

Diagnosis of appetite disorders in children

When diagnosing a disease, an anamnesis is collected - collecting information about the patient, the course and duration of the disease. The child's chronic and hereditary diseases, the presence of bad habits, constant use of pharmacological agents, and cases of contact with allergens and toxic substances are considered.

To make a correct diagnosis, it is necessary to take blood and urine tests, examine internal organs using ultrasound and radiography, and examine the function of the thyroid gland.

Symptoms of diseases accompanied by loss of appetite - table

If you have the above symptoms of the disease, you need to undergo an examination and, based on its results, see a specialist. Decreased appetite as a symptom of the disease disappears after treatment.

Lack of appetite in a child due to improper diet

Decreased appetite can be caused by a lack of diet or bad eating habits.

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To form a proper appetite, the child must get used to eating at the appropriate time. For example, even an adult does not want to eat immediately after waking up. You should also not invite children to the table during games, when the child is passionate about his activities or gameplay. With an established daily routine, the time allocated for play and sleep, walks and lunch forms the child’s habit of eating at certain hours. To prevent your baby from being nervous and capricious, create a daily routine for your child and change it gradually as he grows older.

Snacks between meals

To normalize appetite, it is important that the child does not “bite.” If all kinds of sweets and delicacies are in the children’s access area, the child will certainly give preference in food to temporary snacks than to a full meal. Make sure children don't have candy, chocolate or cookies on hand, and give all treats after a healthy, balanced meal.

Selective appetite

Almost all children give greater preference to certain foods when eating. For example, it is rare that a child will refuse to eat chocolate or drink a glass of juice and will gladly choose French fries and sandwiches, as opposed to a bowl of soup or buckwheat porridge. Should you indulge your baby's habits?

The famous pediatrician Clara Davis conducted a scientific experiment in which she studied the eating behavior of children for six years and came to the conclusion that children’s independent choice of a nutritious diet that promotes the normal development of the child’s body is possible. The main thing is to provide a choice only from those products that benefit the child’s body.

Healthy children grow up on healthy food. The body is ready to choose the food it needs.

Clara Davis

Thus, if there are only healthy foods in your refrigerator, sooner or later the child will receive adequate nutrition (according to the principle of “hunger is not a problem”). Parents should be an example for their children and adhere to healthy lifestyle habits.

Treatment methods

In case of loss of appetite, first assess the child’s condition. Is there fever, nausea, pain in the abdomen, mouth, weakness, loose stools? The presence of at least one of these symptoms indicates illness, and medical attention is needed.

The basis of treatment for low appetite is the treatment of the disease that provoked this disorder. Thus, if a child’s appetite has disappeared due to a bacterial infection, such as a sore throat, then after proper treatment and a course of antibiotics, the appetite will certainly return.

If there is a significant decrease in the child’s body weight, the doctor will prescribe high-calorie nutritional cocktails, and if it is impossible to consume them, droppers or intramuscular injections will be prescribed.

Loss of appetite may be caused by a mental disorder, in which case consultation with a psychotherapist is necessary.

If the above signs of illness are not detected, the child is healthy and cheerful, but refuses to eat, remove the plate away. If he doesn’t want to have lunch, leave him hungry until dinner, but don’t feed him before, even if he asks! Remember about the regime and that snacking does not improve your appetite.

But what if the child does not want to eat for a day or two? There are several methods to help children develop appetite.

Diet

Inclusion in the menu of foods that increase appetite by increasing gastric secretion. Such products include apple and orange juice, tea with lemon, everything spicy and salty (with caution for small children, relevant for schoolchildren from seven years old).

Acidic foods or juices should be taken shortly before each meal. After drinking sour juice, the level of insulin, which is responsible for increasing appetite, will rise, and the acid stimulates the digestive system. In the same way, bitter infusions and decoctions affect the body, which should be added to the diet.

Do not forget about fractional meals; it is better to eat in small portions, but 4–6 times a day. This technique will increase metabolism and have a beneficial effect on the baby’s appetite.

It is better to take carbohydrate foods in the first half of the day to provide the child’s body with energy. In the evening, it is better to give preference to protein foods. Such a meal will ensure a decrease in blood sugar levels in the morning, and therefore, the formation of the child’s appetite and a good breakfast.

Diversify the menu, include your baby’s favorite foods in the diet, and for a while you can eat something you love every day. If the child is not young, add a variety of spices, aromatic vegetables and herbs when preparing food.

Decorate the dining table with beautiful dishes, because serving and beautiful dishes, as well as delicious smells, have a great effect on increasing appetite.

Dishes decoration

For younger children (toddlers and preschoolers from 2 to 7 years old), beautiful presentation of the dish, smells and bright colors are especially effective in normalizing appetite. It’s not for nothing that they say “appetite comes with eating.” Each complete dish can be decorated in the form of fairy-tale characters, animals or birds. Even a plate simply decorated in the shape of a face will lift your spirits.

Decoration of food dishes Decoration of a fruit dish Sandwich “Domik” Sandwich “Dog” Meatballs "Crabs"
Vegetable salad "Flower" Second course “Clown” Sandwiches “Cat and Mouse” Pea soup “Smile” Decoration of fruit slices

Several recipes for decorated children's dishes

Salad "Robin's Nest" Salad “Guess” Pepper “Tongues” Salad "Mosaic" Salad "Flashlight"

Stimulants and drugs that improve appetite in children

There are several groups of appetite stimulants:

• Food enzymes: Linex, Acipol, Creon. Allowed for children of the first year of life and older. Improve digestion and have a beneficial effect on intestinal microflora.
• Choleretic agents: Flamin, Holosas. These are natural preparations that normalize liver function. Allowed for children over 12 years old. They are homeopathic medicines.
• Vitamin-mineral complexes, organic and amino acids that stimulate metabolism (BAS). For example, L-carnitine (this amino acid is contained in the popular children's drug Elkar, which is approved for children from birth). In addition to increasing appetite, these substances have a beneficial effect on the physical and mental health of the child. Among the vitamins recommended are Multitabs (from three years of age) and Pikovit (in the form of syrup used from 1 year of age)
• Honey and bee waste products. For example, Apilak is a nutritional complex for children over one year old, as well as pollen, beebread, propolis and combination preparations with the addition of vitamins, lysine, lecithin and minerals. Not recommended for allergies!
• Adaptogens are drugs that stimulate the immune system, of plant or animal origin. The drug Pantocrin is recommended for children from three years of age. Herbal adaptogens are used to treat decreased appetite in adolescents from 12 years of age, for example, tincture of Eleutherococcus.
• Phytocomplexes with bitterness, for example, wormwood, centaury, dandelion, water trefoil, various herbs. Thanks to the tablet form of the drugs, the child can more easily tolerate taking phytocomplexes than bitter tinctures. Recommended from three years of age.

All of the above drugs are used strictly as prescribed by doctors.

Chewing exercises to increase appetite

Chewing gymnastics is a set of exercises to stimulate appetite in preschool children. It is at this age that children are most susceptible to chronic diseases of the gastrointestinal tract.

Gymnastics should be performed regularly, immediately before meals. The child must be in a good mood, calm and healthy. A plate of food should be placed on the table in front of him, beautifully decorated and attracting attention to enhance the secretion of digestive juices.

Complex “Chewing gymnastics”:

1. We stroke the belly clockwise.
2. We bare our teeth, open and close our mouth.
3. We reach up to the sun, hands pressed to our ears.
4. We run our tongue across the palate, alternating clockwise and counterclockwise.
5. We sit down at the table and smell the food through our noses.

Each exercise is performed for one minute.

Video: 5 ways to get your child to eat

How to improve a child's appetite using folk remedies

Traditional medicine for decreased appetite in children are analogues of some of the above-mentioned medications, containing the same active ingredients, only in their natural form.

Infusions and decoctions of dandelion roots increase appetite

• Bitters in the form of powders, water decoctions and infusions, alcohol tinctures (the latter are allowed after a year).
• Beekeeping products in their natural form (contraindicated in case of individual intolerance!).
• Acidic drinks and fruits (citrus fruits, fruit juices and berries).
• Herbal teas based on lemon balm, mint and chamomile.

Traditional recipes for getting rid of poor appetite in children and adolescents

Decoction of calamus rhizome

Ingredients:

• Calamus rhizome 10g (dessert spoon).
• Water 1 glass.

Preparation:

• Dry calamus root must be chopped with a knife.
• Pour the crushed rhizome into a glass of boiled water.
• Boil calamus root for 10 minutes.
• Strain the broth using a sieve or clean gauze.

The decoction should be taken half an hour before meals in an amount of 50 ml 3 times a day.

Wormwood infusion

Ingredients:

• Wormwood (dry) 1 tsp.
• 2 glasses of water.

Preparation:

1. Pour dry wormwood herb with two cups of boiling water.
2. Leave for 20 minutes.
3. Strain the infusion and cool.

The infusion is taken half an hour before meals, 50 ml, three times a day.

Infusion of golden gentian

Ingredients:

• Gentian root 1 tbsp.
• Glass of water.

Preparation:

1. Finely chop one tablespoon of dry gentian root with a knife.
2. Pour the chopped root into a container with a lid and pour a glass of boiling water.
3. Cover tightly with a lid and steep the root for 2 hours.

Take the infusion 20 minutes before meals, 1 tablespoon 4 times a day.

Treatment prognosis and possible complications

The prognosis for treatment of children with decreased appetite depends on the severity of the diagnosis. The consequences of decreased appetite may be absent altogether if proper treatment is started in a timely manner. Otherwise, complications may arise depending on the duration of the child’s painful condition:

• Reducing body weight.
• Dry skin.
• Reduced immunity.
• Diseases of internal organs.
• Anxious dream.
• Decline in school performance.

Preventing loss of appetite

To avoid any manifestations of appetite disturbance in children, there are two types of preventive actions: primary prevention, aimed at preventing the occurrence of this condition, and secondary, if the disease is diagnosed.