Pediatric gastroenterologist Marina Myagkova told what to do if the child has no food interest, and whether it is necessary to force-feed him.
Very often such problems occur with children aged 2 to 5 years. At the same time, the child feels fine and does not complain about anything.
“There are no drugs that increase appetite, at least for this age. There are tests through which you can see the function of digestion, enzymes, ”the expert says.
For example, you can start with feces and urine tests that will help to give an objective assessment of the work of the gastrointestinal tract. Based on the results of these tests, you need to navigate further – is there a need to donate blood? they are likely to be in nutrition and need to be replenished in order to prevent the development of other pathologies.
It is obligatory to keep a food diary. It will help you analyze your daily calorie intake, meal times, and the amount of food consumed.
With tests and a nutrition diary, you need to consult a gastroenterologist or endocrinologist. A comprehensive examination will help to find out the cause of the lack of appetite.
Marina Myagkova Health Pediatric gastroenterologist