1 Underweight (BMI below 18.5): If you were underweight for your height you should gain 28 to 40 pounds. 2  Overweight (BMI of 25 to 29.9): If you were overweight for your height you should gain 15 to 25 pounds. 3  Obese (a BMI of 30 or higher): If you were obese for your height you should gain between 11 and 20 pounds.
In the UK, the most common causes of malnutrition in children are long-term health conditions that: 1  cause lack of appetite. 2  disrupt the normal process of digestion. 3  cause the body to have an increased demand for energy.
Call your childâs doctor or pediatrician right away if they have diarrhea lasting more than 24 hours, especially if they also have a fever. Chronic diarrhea can lead to shock or organ damage in infants and young children. Diarrhea is also a major cause of malnutrition in children under the age of 5. Many of these cases are due to contaminated water and food. In developing countries, a child under the age of 3 is likely to have three episodes of diarrhea a year. Each incident deprives the child of nutrition needed for growth.