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For children experiencing lactose intolerance, most parents wonder if their child can gain weight. In reality, a child's health is a top priority, and nowadays, cases of lactose intolerance are becoming increasingly common, causing worry and concern for parents who do not understand this condition properly.
Do lactose-intolerant children gain weight or affect both physical and mental development? Parents, follow the article below to get the most appropriate answers from nutrition experts.
Understanding the concept of lactose intolerance
Simply put, lactose intolerance means a lack of lactase enzyme in the body, leading to various symptoms depending on each child's body constitution, such as diarrhea, abdominal pain, vomiting immediately after drinking milk, or after consuming milk-derived products. Although not dangerous, this condition can cause long-term difficulties directly affecting the quality of life of young children. Therefore, parents need to carefully observe these symptoms to timely detect their child's condition, not to affect the absorption of nutrients into the body and the child's development.
The role of lactase enzyme in the body of young children
For infants, lactase enzyme is indispensable for digesting lactose in milk, providing nourishment for the baby. Lactase enzymes need to have a sufficient concentration to absorb all the milk ingested by the baby's body. Insufficient secretion of enzymes can lead to lactose intolerance in infants.
Insights from experts: Do lactose-intolerant children gain weight?
Lactose intolerance significantly affects weight gain and nutrient absorption in children. According to nutrition experts, when sugars are not broken down, babies cannot absorb the sugars in breast milk, despite it being their primary source of nutrition. Therefore, children often experience conditions such as stunted growth, slow weight gain, weakened immunity, frequent illnesses, colic, and milk residue.
When lactose is not metabolized and moves down the intestines, it is fermented by intestinal microorganisms, leading to increased fecal acidity and gas production. This damages the child's intestines, causing increased mucus secretion. Consequently, the ability to absorb nutrients in children also decreases.
Parents should note that when caring for a baby, if the baby has a good appetite but gains weight very slowly or does not gain weight, it is necessary to seek the advice of doctors or healthcare professionals for timely advice and treatment for the child. Additionally, parents can use some types of lactose-free milk for children, also known as lactose-free milk, which are popularly sold at Mytour such as Nan milk and Enfa milk. However, for young children, it is still best to prioritize breastfeeding.
With the informative details provided by Mytour addressing the question 'do lactose-intolerant children gain weight' in the most detailed way, we hope to provide useful insights for parents in nurturing and caring for their children, thereby making it easier to find solutions for children affected by lactose intolerance.
