Pediatric Nutrition

Question 1

Infant Nutrition Basics

• Lack of caloric ___
• ___ metabolic rate
• Growth rates ___ in infancy
• ___ demands during illness
• Dependence/independence

Answer 1

• reserve
• increased
• higher
• increased

Question 2

Typical Infant Growth

• Infant weight doubles by ___ - ___
  months
• Infant weight triples by ___ months
• Infant length increases 50% by ___
  months

Answer 2

4-6
12
12

Question 3

Childhood and Adolescent Growth

Preschool: Ages 2-6
* Growth ___ , but is constant
* ___ tissue distribution begins after age 2

Middle Childhood: 7-10
* Steady growth
* Females ___ males in height and weight

Ages 11-18 (adolescence)
* Begins before puberty and continues until growth is complete
* Rate of weight gain ___

Answer 3

• slows
• adipose
• >
• increases

Question 4

Assessing Growth

Growth charts available length, weight, head
circumference assessment
* Which growth chart?
* WHO: < 2 years old
* CDC: 2-20 years old
* Different charts for boys and girls

Question 5

Nutrition Requirements

Growth is NOT a linear process

Variations include
* Age
* Organ function
* Body composition

Example of body composition/organ function requirements:
* Adults: Brain 2% ABW; 19% BEE
* Neonates: Brain 10% ABW; 44% BEE
- 50% of a neonate’s basal energy
expenditure is used by their brain

Question 6

Pediatric Malnutrition

Malnutrition: deficiencies or excesses in nutrient intake, imbalance of
essential nutrients or impaired nutrient utilization
- Can result in wasting, stunting, underweight, obesity, and micronutrient deficiencies

Anthropometry
- Growth charts with z-scores, mid-upper arm circumference (MUAC)
- Z-score -> statistical analysis that tells us the distance and direction of an
observation from a population mean

Failure to thrive (growth faltering)
- Fall of 2 major percentiles
- Weight < 3-5th percentile

Question 7

Etiology and Causes of Malnutrition

Etiology
* Acute vs chronic causes
* Ex: critical illness, heart failure, cystic fibrosis

Mechanism
* Imbalance of energy needs and intake
* Three causes: inadequate caloric intake, inadequate absorption or excessive energy
expenditure

Why does it matter?
* Morbidity and mortality -> linked to unfavorable outcomes