How Big Is Your Kid?

[SilverSlipper]

I'm looking for a little reassurance. My daughter is 8 yrs old (2 yrs on a gluten-free diet) and weighs 44 lbs. She's very small for her age. Our pediatrician says that she is about the size of a kindergarten kid (my daughter is in 2nd grade). She's a few inches shy of being 4 ft tall. Our ped is not overly worried at the moment as she is growing (she had quit growing for over a year which is how we started looking for a diagnosis).

I'm wondering if other kids with celiac disease are unusually small? I know they are typically smaller than their peers, but my daughter's size is sometimes unnerving. Could their be anything else going on that I should look into?

[momofk&n]

My oldest was diagnosed when she was three. She had only grown half an inch in a year, her hair was falling out, and I had just gotten diagnosed the year before and demanded testing for her. Three years later, we put her on the scale. She weighs 45 lbs! Also, she is still a little short. Our doctor said she may eventually catch up but it takes 3-5 years for the body to fully heal itself. Remember that patience is a virtue. It has just been in the last 6 months that my girl has really taken off. It felt like she would never gain any real weight or height. My youngest is 3 and also has celiac, she never had any real exposure as she was diagnosed in the first three months. She is still a little small compared to her peers but a lot closer than her sister. Talk to your pediatrician about running some blood tests just to make sure that she is now receiving the proper nutrition and see if she needs a supplement to support weight gain and growth for a while. My oldest needed a nutritional supplement for that first year. Good luck.

[RideAllWays]

I was the opposite. I was a huge kid, got quite fat (okay, huge) around the age of 10 until I was about 13, then started losing weight. I was the tallest in the class from kindergarten to grade 5 ish...then I stopped growing. I am now 5' tall and 95 pounds, and everybody always jokes that I am a midget..

[T.H.]

My son is 1 month shy of 8 and he's 45 inches right now. I also know a 10 year old little boy diagnosed about 4 years ago, and he is also very small.

As to if there might be something else? I've seen one thing that might be of interest. This article here on the site:

https://www.celiac.com/articles/21964/1/Linear-growth-Impairment-and-Anti-pituitary-Antibodies-in-Children-with-Newly-Diagnosed-Celiac-Disease/Page1.html

It was about anti-pituitary antibodies that are in kids who have active celiac, and it actually inhibits growth. If I recall right, a very few still have this after they are gluten free. I don't know if anything can be done about it, or how the titer for it is obtained, but it might be nice something you could ask about, yeah?

I'm looking for a little reassurance. My daughter is 8 yrs old (2 yrs on a gluten-free diet) and weighs 44 lbs. She's very small for her age. Our pediatrician says that she is about the size of a kindergarten kid (my daughter is in 2nd grade). She's a few inches shy of being 4 ft tall. Our ped is not overly worried at the moment as she is growing (she had quit growing for over a year which is how we started looking for a diagnosis).

I'm wondering if other kids with celiac disease are unusually small? I know they are typically smaller than their peers, but my daughter's size is sometimes unnerving. Could their be anything else going on that I should look into?

[Roda]

My kids are not diagnosed celiac and not on gluten free diets. Debated putting oldest on because of his seasonal/year round allergies, but have not yet (long story). Just thought I would give you a non celiac perspective. My oldest just turned 9(3rd grade) and is 51" (4' 3") and around 58-60 lbs. He did not grow much before and from July '09 to Dec. '09 he grew 2 1/2 inches! He is now contantly complaining of growing pains behind his knees. My youngest son just turned 5 (he is in pre-K) and he is 42 1/2"(3' 6 1/2") tall and 38 lbs. He really has grown alot in the past year. He is starting to wear things that my oldest son did not wear until he started kindergarden and into first grade. However, I think some of the hand me down clothes have probably shrunk a little.

[Wolicki]

My kids are not diagnosed celiac and not on gluten free diets. Debated putting oldest on because of his seasonal/year round allergies, but have not yet (long story). Just thought I would give you a non celiac perspective. My oldest just turned 9(3rd grade) and is 51" (4' 3") and around 58-60 lbs. He did not grow much before and from July '09 to Dec. '09 he grew 2 1/2 inches! He is now contantly complaining of growing pains behind his knees. My youngest son just turned 5 (he is in pre-K) and he is 42 1/2"(3' 6 1/2") tall and 38 lbs. He really has grown alot in the past year. He is starting to wear things that my oldest son did not wear until he started kindergarden and into first grade. However, I think some of the hand me down clothes have probably shrunk a little.

I am 6 ft tall, and my ex husband is 6'5". I knew we would have big kids. My 12 year old is 5'8" and 92 pounds. String bean! My 9 yr old was always taller than his brother was at the same age until about a year ago and he just stopped growing. He was diagnosed Celiac in October, 2009 and he is growing again. I think he's grown 2 inches since Oct. He's about 4'11" and 90 pounds. He's gone from a size 8 to a size 12 in 3 months. So, the good news is once you've gotten their deficiencies, etc. worked out,it can reverse itself.

[Roda]

I am 6 ft tall, and my ex husband is 6'5". I knew we would have big kids. My 12 year old is 5'8" and 92 pounds. String bean! My 9 yr old was always taller than his brother was at the same age until about a year ago and he just stopped growing. He was diagnosed Celiac in October, 2009 and he is growing again. I think he's grown 2 inches since Oct. He's about 4'11" and 90 pounds. He's gone from a size 8 to a size 12 in 3 months. So, the good news is once you've gotten their deficiencies, etc. worked out,it can reverse itself.

I'm average height at 5' 7" and my husband is 6' and not a hulky build (lean). My boys have always been small, but continue to stay on their growth curve. My parents were average height (5' 6" and 5' 11") and my husbands mother is short and father probably as tall as him. There are tall and short people in the mix. As for my 9 year old, yes he is one of the shorter boys in his class, but there are others that are about the same. His best friend and him are the same size. I was told that kids with allergies can grow slower. Some people are short because they're programed that way. THe funny thing is though my brother who is 5" 10" and wife who is very short and comes from a family of very short people, have three kids and all are taller than thier dad. Up until 7th grade I was one of the shortest in my class. My brother and I grew very similar to my boys. My one nephew was really small and puberty hit and wow!

[Darissa]

My 9 yr daughter weighed 46 lbs when we found out she had celiac disease. She gained 14 lbs her first year of being on a strick gluten-free diet. She is still much smaller than they other kids in her class, but she is growing so much better now. Prior to her Dx of celiac disease, we had her growth hormones tested, and all were within normal range. How long have you been gluten-free? That has made a huge difference in my daughters growth. Good luck!

[jeramy]

My son is 1 month shy of 8 and he's 45 inches right now. I also know a 10 year old little boy diagnosed about 4 years ago, and he is also very small.

As to if there might be something else? I've seen one thing that might be of interest. This article here on the site:

https://www.celiac.com/articles/21964/1/Linear-growth-Impairment-and-Anti-pituitary-Antibodies-in-Children-with-Newly-Diagnosed-Celiac-Disease/Page1.html

It was about anti-pituitary antibodies that are in kids who have active celiac, and it actually inhibits growth. If I recall right, a very few still have this after they are gluten free. I don't know if anything can be done about it, or how the titer for it is obtained, but it might be nice something you could ask about, yeah?

I find this very interesting and possibly validiating.

I am a celiac and have other auto immune issues such as fibromyalgia and sjogren's syndrome. My kids, 8 and 13, are not celiac diagnosed, but there's always the chance they may be. Still they don't have any harsh symptoms (wrenching gut pain!) They are underweight and very short for their age and have been constipated since the day they came out into the world. Now, I'm not very big myself, barely 5'2" and I was small growing up, but never had gluten problems till after my daughter was born. My father was also small. About 5'6". Now I guess it's possible we had celiac and these anti-pituitary antibobies problem without knowing it.

My son fits almost exactly your child's description. He is 8.5 years and weighs 46 lbs. and 46" tall. I haven't been focused on his weight and height because h e looks so porportioned. It's my daughter who likes like a skeleton. She is 13 and she's 4'8 and 73 lbs. I have just recently taken her off gluten and I wante to give her at least a month gluten-free to see if she gains weight. Nothing else we've tried...doctors, etc. has worked. BUT, she has an added problem of having ADD and she is missing hunger cues. So who knows what the answer really is.

But this APA thing is interesting. I'm going to contact our PED and talk about getting them tested.

[Tatum]

My 16 month old is 20.5 lbs

[Piccolo]

Sliver Sliper,

Let me tell you about me. I have always been small. I am now in my 60's. I am 4'11" and only weigh about 80 pounds. This is the heaviest I have ever been. I have been healthy and strong. Being on the small side has not hindered my life. My top weight 9 months pregnant was 92lb.

Hope this helps and reassures you.

Susan

[Quasior]

My children aren't diagnosed yet, but I'm pretty certain at least three of five have it!

My eldest girl is 10, she's the size of a 6 yo in height, but she wieghs 45 kg

My eldest son is 8, above average height and extremely thin, he's not breached 30 kg yet

My middle boy is 7, he is hovering around the 25%ile, but he is also thin (not extemely - he could be a body builder when he grows up), he's heavier than his older brother but not by much!) he was around the 10%ile but he broke his femur and the one good thing that came of it was he gained that 15% in the next year.

My next son is 4, hes very thin/short, 10 %ile... he can wear 00 sized clothes meant for a 6 month old!! He can also just wear size 4 in some sizes, but he needs a belt to keep them up. He has a huge belly though, from bloating but since going gluten-free that is flattening out thank goodness!

My youngest daughter is 2, she was over the 100%ile for height/weight for the first six months of her life. When she started eating solids, that dramatically changed. She's now lucky to keep 10%ile, she often drops below accepted age's height/weight ratio - which is a concern. She is very thin, doesn't bloat either, she is totally flat tummy, you can see her ribs, scary!

So yeah, its common I think for children with celiacs to be short of stature and thin, but there is also those who are refered to as 'starving for nutrition' like myself who weigh heavier!

[celiac-mommy]

My dd was diagnosed when she was 4, she is now 8, nearly 5ft tall and weighs 67# (She's average for an 11 year old!!)

My ds was diagnosed when he was 2.5. He had always been in the 10th% for height and weight until his diagosis, now he's thriving at the 75% for height and 50th for weight!

(I'm 5'11" and I'm the shortest kid in my family and my hubby is 6'5")

[Beth03456]

My 3 yo is at the 5% for height and weight (36 inches in height now). Both my husband and I are short, so the doctor thinks he may not be below his normal curve, but I do still hope he grows more. He didn't grow at all between ages 2 and 3 though, which is how he was diagnosed.

For perspective, his older sister will be 6 next month and is similar to your child - 44 inches and 44 lbs, slightly under average - maybe 30-40%??

[Liddle4]

My son is 8 weighs 41 lbs and is only 42 inches tall!

[Generic]

My gluten-free 18 y/o daughter weighs about 160 lbs. and is 5'6". My non-gluten-free (who should be) 15 y/o son is 6'4" not sure about his weight. I think he is around 160 lbs. He is a string bean too. Me I'm 5'8 and horribly underweight at 109 lbs.(due to unrelated chronic pancreatitis and other issues.)

[sugarsue]

My son is 8 weighs 41 lbs and is only 42 inches tall!

Hi, my daughter is 7 now. She went gluten free when she was 6. At that time she weighed 39 lbs. In the past 1 1/2 years, she gained 11 lbs!! She grew 2 inches but is still small for her age (I'm not sure how tall she is). I have hope that she will continue growing and maybe she'll catch up. One thing that helped us with the weight was protein drinks like Boost.

Susan

[Aletheia]

I have a 3.5 year old who is 26 pounds (for measure, his younger brother with no-known issues is 22.5 pounds-- and he is 2 years younger) and about34" tall. Barely on the WHO charts.

He is undiagnosed right now.

[floweringdawn]

I am female celiac....and was diagnosed at 11 months old, my parents did not keep me on a strict diet, and I was very small. Until about age 12 I went on a gluten free diet on my own due to my GI pain. I was still small until I hit puberty, and now I am 5'11" so there is hope!! keep them on a 100% gluten-free diet and they can catch up!