Diane E. Bloomfield, MD, Elaine A. Dinolfo, MD, MS, 2016. "Weight Loss (Chapter 207)", American Academy of Pediatrics Textbook of Pediatric Care, Thomas K. McInerny, MD, FAAP, Henry M. Adam, MD, FAAP, Deborah E. Campbell, MD, FAAP, Thomas G. DeWitt, MD, FAAP, Jane Meschan Foy, MD, FAAP, Deepak M. Kamat, MD, PhD, FAAP, Rebecca Baum, MD, FAAP, Kelly J. Kelleher, MD, MPH, FAAP
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Weight loss in an infant, child, or adolescent is an uncommon but highly significant event. As the chief complaint or as an incidental finding, weight loss should be evaluated and followed up carefully by serial measurements and documentation on standardized growth charts. Revised growth charts from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention released in January 2002 represent a broad cross-section of children in the United States. The charts are based on 5 large national samples that included breastfed and formula-fed infants, adolescents to the 20th birthday, and a racially and ethnically diverse population. With emphasis on growth parameters and...