Understanding Loss of Appetite in Children: Causes, Concerns, and Natural Solutions

Parents are always worried about their child for some or the other reason. Most of the parents often complain about reduced appetite or faulty eating habits in children between age group of 1 to 5 years. Parents are used to their babies gaining weight up to 6 to 7 kgs in first year and later they only gain about 2 to 3 kgs up to 5 years of age. Children of this age can actually go three to four months without much weight gain. They're not growing as fast. So the demand for food is also reduced and hence less or even no food intake is seen in child. This phenomena is called physiological anorexia.

Kids in general eat as much as they need for growth and energy. Many parents try to force their child to eat more than they need.

Many parents also tend to feed their child with snacks, fruits, or eatables all day long. But feeding them only when the child demands is the right thing to do as the child is fully trained to demand when there is necessity to supply food. Most of the parents are worried that the child may develop vitamin and mineral deficiencies due to poor appetite. But forced feedings may affect child's appetite by making mealtime more of a punishment for the child.

Once your child is old enough to use a spoon, never pick it up again as a parent. If your child is hungry, they'll feed themselves. Not to worry if your child has normal weight and height for his/her age, as some children with small built have lesser food requirements.

But if the child is older and has remarkable loss of appetite, always tired and irritable then it is a fact of concern. Underlying reasons for such a change may be sickness- stomach flu, fever, sore throat, and diarrhea.

stress related to family issue or inability to cope up with academics

Depression- depression affects child’s appetite to great extent

anorexia nervosa –psychological aversion to eating

anemia- children with anemia are lethargic, tired, and irritable

intestinal worms-worms cause loss of appetite, intestinal bleeding, dysentery in child.

Constipation-irregular bowel movement can affect child appetite.

There are several natural ways to increase your child’s appetite. But sometimes you need to use appetite stimulants to ensure that children eat as much as they should. While choosing such supplement you must ensure that the product is genuine and well researched.

Keeping in mind all the above aspects and deeply researching herbs which prove to be most potent and synergetic in improving child’s appetite. These herbs are best appetizers and also contribute in enhancing immunity in children. At nisarga herbs, we have formulated “imutizer “syrup which is purely herbal supplement, with no side effects and safest to use in children.