Appetite

Question
Hi there,

We have a 9 year old girl who weighs approx. 45 lbs. Since birth she has always been under 10% in weight. In Kindergarten she was diagnosed with mild epilepsy and adhd tendancies and is now on seizure med. and dexidrine. She never did have a good appetite but it seems to be getting worse. We've tried various doses and various meds, all seem to worsen her appetite and also keep her up late at night.
It's very hard to feed her well balanced snacks or meals without being a big production. Last night she worked herself up so much that she vomited all her meal. We're very worried and frustrated.
 Other than that she does lead a normal life doing various activites like gymnastics and softball.

Thanks

Answer
John, you really haven't asked me a specific question but I see you are concerned about your daughters eating habits. Dexedrine is a stimulant and an appetite suppressant. You should really speak with her doctor and search for a different drug to help her with her ADD. Her doctor should be doing monthly weight checks on her to make sure she isn't losing weight while on this drug. Trying to make her eat foods when she is not hungry can be a struggle. Encourage high calorie foods like cheesecake, ice cream, pasta, bagels, waffles, pancakes, cookies, cake, and whole milk drinks to name a few. These foods are in addition to healthy foods containing whole fruits, lean meats, chicken and fish, vegetables, whole grains, healthy fats, and a daily multivitamin. Include her in the food selection. Tell her she has to choose one high calorie food per day or more while she is on the medication. Make her accountable for her food intake instead of telling her what to eat, sometimes that helps.
Good Luck, Laura Kraemer,Slimkids.com

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