There are many reasons why sometimes kids don’t grow as well as they should. More than 90% of the time, the problem is that the child isn’t eating enough.

Other reasons for growth concerns include diseases that:

• Causes frequent vomiting or diarrhea
• Make it hard for the gut to absorb calories
• Makes their body use more energy to grow, so they need to eat more to keep up

Malabsorption Diseases

Malabsorption diseases prevent the body from taking in nutrients.

They include:

• Celiac disease: Damage to the small intestine leads to poor nutrient absorption.
• Cystic fibrosis: Thick secretions block enzymes, causing trouble digesting fats and proteins.
• Pancreatic insufficiency: When the pancreas doesn't make enough enzymes to break down food.
• Severe lactose intolerance: Can lead to diarrhea and poor absorption if not managed.
• Short bowel syndrome: There is not enough healthy small intestine to absorb nutrients, fluids and calories from food.
• Chronic infections: Such as giardiasis, can cause chronic diarrhea and weight loss.

Inflammatory Diseases

Inflammatory diseases can cause pain, poor appetite and nutrient loss.

They include:

• Inflammatory bowel disease: Often causes weight loss, diarrhea and delayed growth.
• Eosinophilic GI disease: May lead to food refusal or malabsorption.
• Food protein-induced enterocolitis syndrome: Can cause vomiting, diarrhea and poor growth.

Other GI-Related Causes

Other digestive diseases can affect how your child eats or digests food.

They include:

• Chronic constipation: Can cause early fullness and poor appetite.
• Feeding issues: Often in infants or kids with sensory sensitivities or medical complexity.
• Functional GI disorders: Kids may eat less due to discomfort.
• Gastroesophageal reflux disease: Pain from reflux may lead to food refusal.
• Gastroparesis: Delayed stomach emptying causes early fullness and vomiting.
• Chronic diarrhea: Leads to loss of fluids and nutrients.

Your child’s treatment plan depends on their age, health, diagnosis and how their body responds to different types of care. Our team works with you to find the right approach for your child’s growth and overall well-being.

Our experts will work with your family to tailor a care plan for your child. Our goals are to improve your child’s growth and quality of life.

Common treatments include:

• Higher-calorie diets: We’ll help you boost your child’s calorie intake with nutrient-rich meals and snacks.
• Feeding support: Some kids may need a feeding tube to get the calories they need.
• Appetite stimulants: In some cases, we may suggest medicine to help your child feel hungrier and eat more.
• Nutrition support: Some kids may need formula-based nutrition or added fats or proteins. We create a supplement plan based on how their body absorbs and uses nutrients.
• Feeding strategies at home: We can guide you in building healthy habits, so your child comes to the table ready to eat.
• Emotional support: We’ll work with you to reduce stress around eating. Too much pressure can make meals harder.

We’ll stay by your side as your child grows and their needs change. Our goal is to help them eat well, feel better and thrive.

Nationally ranked pediatric gastroenterology care: In the 2026-27 U.S. News & World Report Best Children's Hospitals rankings, Children's Wisconsin was ranked among the nation's best for Gastroenterology & GI Surgery. Our experts diagnose and treat digestive, liver and nutritional conditions, including complex gastrointestinal disorders in children.

From diagnosis to ongoing treatment, our staff will work with your family to maximize your child’s nutrition and well-being. Our team gives you and your family the best and safest care possible. We will work closely with your family to reduce the impact of digestive issues on your child’s life.

The Nutritional Care Program helps kids with all types of nutritional and feeding issues. Using a mix of diet and medicine, we help optimize your child’s growth and health.

In addition to world-class care, we have many resources for kids and families. We provide a comfortable and welcoming place for every step of your journey. We’re here for you, from finding out what’s wrong to long-term care.

First Visit

The doctor will:

• Look at your child’s medical history
• Conduct a physical exam
• Analyze your child’s height and weight gains on the growth chart
• Review parents’ growth history

If your child is experiencing symptoms that point to another medical issue, the doctor might order additional tests.

These may include:

• Lab tests: Blood, urine, stool or sweat tests to check for infections or digestive diseases.
• Endoscopic tests: A test to look inside the digestive system for signs of disease or damage.
• Behavioral screening: Checking for emotional or mental health issues that may affect eating or appetite.

During treatment

If your child is taking an appetite stimulant, they’ll usually stay on those for a few months to a year. Once they start growing well and move up the growth percentiles, your doctor might stop the medicine. Most kids are able to maintain their growth after that point.

If your child is still struggling and cannot absorb enough nutrients, they may need help eating. Our Intestinal Rehabilitation Program gives your child nutrition through a vein (IV) or a feeding tube. But we also focus on helping your child eat by mouth and lowering their need for it.

Our goals for your child include:

• Encourage normal feeding: We help your child eat enough by mouth so they can wean off IV or tube nutrition.
• Support healthy growth: We watch their nutrition, health and lab results. We make sure they have steady growth and development.
• Prevent complications: We work to avoid problems related to IV feeding and intestinal issues. We focus on early detection and care.

After Care

When properly treated, most kids gain weight and height and feel better. For some kids, the right care plan and diet changes mean they can live normal lives.

You’ll have regular meetings with your child’s doctor to monitor their weight and symptoms. They’ll ensure your child is eating and growing well.

For other kids, digestive diseases are chronic health issues. They may need long-term care with one of our expert programs.