Genetic factors play a significant role in determining physical traits such as height. However, there are several factors that influence a child's height.

If your child is experiencing difficulty reaching a higher height, various factors may be contributing to this.

Causes of children's difficulty growing

Not Getting Enough Calories

Approximately 90% of children have disrupted growth and development due to low calorie intake, according to the Cleveland Clinic. This can occur when children eat too little or are not interested in eating. 

Children have calorie needs that must be met every day based on their age. According to the American Heart Association, the following are children's calorie needs based on their age:

• Age 1 year requires 900 kcal/day
• Ages 2–3 years require 1,000 kcal/day
• Ages 4–8 require 1,200 kcal/day
• Ages 9–13 require 1,600 kcal/day
• Ages 14–18 require 1,800 kcal/day

Less eating

Children's calorie needs are not met, one of which is due to poor food portions. This can be due to poverty, diluted milk, or eating disorders such as anorexia. 

Oral or nerve problems

Children do not get maximum growth because they may experience mouth and nerve problems. Nervous problems such as cerebral palsy, for example, can affect the ability to chew and swallow food. In the end, children do not get enough calorie intake according to the body's daily needs.

Vomit

Some children may vomit more often than children their age. This can be caused by various things, such as acid reflux, nervous disorders, indigestion, diarrhea, and other health problems.

Having pancreatic disorders

Pancreatic disorders may cause the child to be unable to gain weight and height as they should. In this case, the child may experience persistent stomach pain, nausea, vomiting, weight loss, diarrhea, and oily bowel movements.

Thyroid problems

Thyroid disorders in children can affect a child's growth and development, including height. Thyroid disorders such as hypothyroidism or hyperthyroidism both cause children's growth problems.

The thyroid plays a role in metabolic processes that are important for growth. However, if treated well and on time, children with thyroid disorders can grow and develop well.

Congenital heart disease

Congenital heart disease in babies can affect their height later in life. Some types of congenital heart disease may also cause problems in the bloodstream, which then affect the child's growth.

In addition, children with congenital heart disease may also experience problems with oxygen uptake, which also affects the child's growth.

When should I worry about my child's height growth?

As explained above, there are many factors that affect a child's height growth. However, you need to be aware of the following signs:

• The child looks physically stunted
• The child looks unenergetic, has frequent constipation, dry skin, dry hair shaft, and difficulty keeping body temperature warm
• There is a disturbance in growth hormone, which is characterized by a face that looks abnormally young
• Frequent bowel movements, blood in the stool, diarrhea, constipation, nausea and vomiting

If you need medical advice or consultation, you can either visit a doctor or make use of the consultation features that are available in the Ai Care application by downloading the Ai Care application from the App Store or Play Store.

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