Why children lose appetite

Aug 05, 2016

Stella Mulungi also says she has been struggling to have her child eat. She says her daughter takes soda and cake.

By Genavive Ikelloi

Jane Kaggwa always says she has trouble convincing Kate to take her food. She says the problem started when she was young. She would only take fast foods such as chips, chapatti, or take bread. Stella Mulungi also says she has been struggling to have her child eat. She says her daughter takes soda and cake.  There are many factors that may make children to lose appetite. For example, lack of nutrients such as carbohydrates, proteins or fats in the body can cause lack of appetite.

According to Dr. Ben Kiwanuka of Save Life Clinic in Mutungo, Wakiso ,sicknesses such as malaria, flu and cough can lead to loss of appetite. Absence of parents from home influences the eating behavior of children. Mulungi says whenever she is at home; the child takes more than half of her serving. However, when she is away, she can hardly take a bite. Some teachers at school also stress their children with much work and homework for example children in baby class are given a lot of homework.

Eating the same food every day also makes the child lose appetite because of the same smell of the food such as rice has a smell in that if you frequently eat it, it may reach a time when you don't want to smell the same smell hence making the kid to lose appetite.

Doctors encourage parents to feed their children with food rich in vitamins since they boost body immunity. Esther Mirembe, a nurse in the same clinic says children should not be forced to eat the food they don't want. Parents should keep alternating food so that children look forward to a different type of food.

He also recommends parents to de-worm their children every three months to kill the worms that could be leading to loss of appetite.

Tips to prevent loss of appetite in children

  • Do not scold the children during the mealtime.
  • Adjust the meal schedules so that you serve food only when your child is hungry.
  • Encourage your child to make healthy food choices.
  • Allow your child to take a snack between the meals.
  • Serve small portions of food at regular intervals say, after every three hours.
  • Encourage your child to do exercises, play outdoor games
  • Do not force your child to eat if she is not hungry. As a parent, demanding that she finishes the food on her plate is a bad idea.

 

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