Why is my child anorexic and refusing to eat?

There are many reasons for anorexia in children, which can cause great harm to the healthy development of children. Long-term anorexia can lead to poor diet and unbalanced nutrient intake in the body, which can often induce vitamin or mineral deficiencies, easily leading to poor immunity and the occurrence of some diseases. And as parents, we should also understand that when children have anorexia, it may be caused by some diseases, such as some intestinal diseases, and some acute or chronic hepatitis, which can cause children to have anorexia.

Causes of anorexia in children

1. Physical reasons

(1) The influence of certain gastrointestinal diseases: peptic ulcer, acute and chronic hepatitis, chronic enteritis, diarrhea and chronic constipation due to various reasons may cause anorexia in children, and the original disease should be specifically identified;

2) The side effects of certain drugs can cause gastrointestinal allergies, which can easily lead to nausea, vomiting, etc. For example, drugs such as erythromycin, chloramphenicol, sulfonamides and aminophylline can cause loss of appetite and anorexia. Vitamin A or vitamin D poisoning can also cause anorexia. Some anticancer drugs are more likely to cause anorexia.

(3) Lack of certain trace elements and insufficiency of certain endocrine hormones in the body may also cause anorexia. For example, zinc deficiency often causes anorexia, and certain endocrine hormones, such as hypothyroidism and relative deficiency of adrenal cortex hormones, can also cause anorexia.

(4) Systemic diseases such as tuberculosis, collagen disease, anemia, and some chronic infections.

(5) Other conditions such as liver dysfunction, hypertension, acidosis, uremia, and heart failure and gastrointestinal congestion.

2. Parental reasons

(1) Improper feeding

As family finances improve and the supply of snacks for children in the market increases, children are easily tempted to eat snacks. High-protein, high-sugar diets reduce appetite. Eating candies, desserts, peanuts, melon seeds and other snacks between meals, as well as irregular meals and lifestyles, all affect appetite.

(2) The impact of wrong education

Parents who place too high demands on their children, restrict their freedom, prevent them from playing with other children, or limit the places they want to go can affect their mood and reduce their appetite. Parents pay too much attention to their children's eating, and are prone to lose temper with their children because of a failed feeding. Repeated induction or threats can make children more likely to suffer from anorexia.

(3) Parents themselves have anorexia or picky eating habits

Leave a bad impression on children.

3. Influence of children's emotions

(1) Parents’ overindulgence and inappropriate attitude towards their children’s eating may lead to anorexia nervosa.

(2) In summer, excessive heat, high humidity, and excessive consumption of cold drinks can affect the secretion of digestive juices and thus appetite.

(3) Acute mental stimulation: If a child is severely frightened, he or she may become listless, have suppressed activities, and have a decreased appetite. This kind of anorexia usually does not last long, and the appetite will return once the intimidation wears off.

(4) Subacute or chronic mental stimulation: When leaving family members and familiar environment and entering a nursery or other new environment, children cannot adapt to the new environment, become depressed, and have a decreased appetite. Family unhappiness or parental divorce may be the cause of anorexia.