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What Causes Constant Hunger And Weight Gain In Child?
Question: 7 year old daughter rapidly gaining weight mostly in her stomach. She is CONSTANTLY hungry. Does not seem overly thirsty, just hungry. She went from size 8 to size 10 in 3 months. Craves junk food.
She is short as are we the parents. Her twin brother is very thin. He is very conscious of his weight. Both I and my husband are very overweight.
She is short as are we the parents. Her twin brother is very thin. He is very conscious of his weight. Both I and my husband are very overweight.
Brief Answer:
Needs clinical examination and councelling
Detailed Answer:
Hello
Excessive eating when become pathological it is called Polyphagia. In most of the cases it is just an eating disorder and needs counselling.
As you mentioned that both you and your husband are overweight,her obesity may be familial. It is not always that all the siblings have same build up or if both the parents are overweight all the children also will be overweight(As your son is of thin built).
There are some diseased condition in which there can be polyphagia. The common one is Juvenile Diabetes and Hyperthyroidism. There may be some other uncommon causes.
In diabetes the child will have other symptoms like increased thirst and increased frequency of urination.In hyperthyroidism the child is usually of thin built and has a history of excessive sweating or anxiety.
The clinical history of your daughter does not matches in any of these and thus I would like to rule out the most common cause that is behavioral eating disorder.
In diseased polyphagia child does not has a particular choice of food. He/she can eat a range or variety of food irrespectively.
So I would suggest you to consult a pediatrician for proper physical examination and for the counselling regarding behavioral eating disorder if it is there.
I would be glad to answer if you have any further query
Regards
Needs clinical examination and councelling
Detailed Answer:
Hello
Excessive eating when become pathological it is called Polyphagia. In most of the cases it is just an eating disorder and needs counselling.
As you mentioned that both you and your husband are overweight,her obesity may be familial. It is not always that all the siblings have same build up or if both the parents are overweight all the children also will be overweight(As your son is of thin built).
There are some diseased condition in which there can be polyphagia. The common one is Juvenile Diabetes and Hyperthyroidism. There may be some other uncommon causes.
In diabetes the child will have other symptoms like increased thirst and increased frequency of urination.In hyperthyroidism the child is usually of thin built and has a history of excessive sweating or anxiety.
The clinical history of your daughter does not matches in any of these and thus I would like to rule out the most common cause that is behavioral eating disorder.
In diseased polyphagia child does not has a particular choice of food. He/she can eat a range or variety of food irrespectively.
So I would suggest you to consult a pediatrician for proper physical examination and for the counselling regarding behavioral eating disorder if it is there.
I would be glad to answer if you have any further query
Regards
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Above answer was peer-reviewed by :
Dr. Prasad
Answered by
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