Children are a blessing. No wonder parents will scale great lengths to overcome whatever vicissitudes might harm their children. Actually, most parents are concerned when it comes to the weight and height of their children because in a way, that is how they gauge the overall health of a child.

Average Height and Weight for a 10-Year-Old Child

In most cases of normal health, 10 years old is the peak of growth and development. The height of both genders starts to increase drastically as the bones grow and lengthen (at the epiphyseal growth plate of the bone). Since the children of this age group are very active, their metabolic demands are increased. Consequently, they may rapidly increase in weight owing to their increased appetite and constant demand for food.

At this age, the activities in the body of both males and females are almost similar. They weigh the same and can be of the same height and physical strength. The normal weight for a 10-year-old girl is documented as 70.5 pounds. That's approximately 32 kg. The height for a 10-year-old girl is estimated as 138.4 cm. As aforementioned in the previous paragraphs, these values are similar and equal for both gender, hence a 10-year old boy's weight is similar to normal weight for a 10-year-old girl.

What Is Healthy Weight Gain for Children?

On average, a child can get about 2 inches taller and gain between 5 and 10 pounds of weight during the grade school years. These values are just averages and do not correspond to the growth reality in some children. The rate of development and growth in children is somewhat different since quite a number may start maturing as early as age eight, yet others will mature from age 14 onwards.

Nevertheless, gaining weight is much easier than losing weight. Though, it is very difficult to manipulate height.

Causes of Delayed Growth

Some children may not grow at the normal rate for their age. This is influenced by a variety of factors, some of which are explained as follows:

1. Inadequate intake of calories

This is the cause of abnormal growth in children 90% of the time. It could be due to a variety of reasons, such as financial difficulties at home, which is the major reason for poor diet. Children in this age are also prone to emotional distress. If there is any slight misunderstanding between the parent and the child, a child may decide to shun eating. Other children may also lack appetite despite the various physical activities that they indulge in.

2. Family history of growth delays

This condition is often associated with delayed maturation of growth axis originating from the hypothalamus and the pituitary glands in the body. The classical presentations of family history include late menarche in the mother of the child and or late puberty with a continuous growth even in the early twenties in father of the child. These children appear relatively shorter with age due to delayed maturation of the skeletal system. In these children, the process of growth has not failed completely, it only delays as puberty approaches and then picks up the pace after puberty.

3. Diseases and disorders

Perhaps the most documented cause of severe stunted physical growth with mental involvement is cretinism. This is a condition of thyroid hormone deficiency clinically described as congenital hypothyroidism. The most common cause of hypothyroidism in children is maternal hypothyroidism during pregnancy. Chronic disease, especially of the gastrointestinal system, may hamper the process of food absorption or interfere with appetite. This often leads to inadequate nutrients being supplied to the body, resulting in reduced growth rate. Genetic disorders such as Turner's Syndrome and Down's Syndrome may also cause delayed growth in children.

Child abuse and neglect may lead to emotional problems in children. Such emotional condition may cause an imbalance in the body's hormonal levels, leading to a process of delayed growth called psychosocial dwarfism.

4. Drug used by the mother during pregnancy

Any substance consumed by the mother that will affect the health of the unborn child is called a teratogen. Most teratogens are substances of abuse such as cigarettes, alcohol, and cocaine. While their overall effects on the child are numerous, the most common effects are abnormal growth and mental retardation.

What Is the Treatment for Delayed Growth?

Treatments for growth delays is dependent on the cause. For instance, if your doctor suspects that the reason for stunted growth is malnutrition, you will be given dietary advice on how and what to feed the child. Patients with derangements in hormonal levels may be given hormone therapy, such as thyroxine in hypothyroidism and somatostatin in growth hormone deficiency. These treatments are highly delicate and should only be performed by a doctor.

How Can a 10-Year Child Keep Healthy Weight?

It is expedient to keep a healthy weight irrespective of age. For children aged 10 years old, making them exercise to burn calories may appear to them as an outright torture and malice. The following are some of the ways through which a 10-year old can keep a healthy weight.

• By focusing on fruits and vegetables

Fruits and vegetables and fiber-rich foods have low calories. As a result, they rapidly make you feel full, creating no room for extra calories.

• By setting certain limits

People often develop certain habits that are very detrimental to their health. These habits include eating while watching a TV series or a movie and eating in the bedroom or the computer room. As a parent, you can set certain limits such as eating food only at the kitchen table. This will limit the number of calories consumed by the child.

• Serve small portions for children

The psychology surrounding food is that children will always strive to finish the amount of food in their plate irrespective of the amount. You can start off by using smaller plates to serve food or serving half the usual portion to the child so that just in case he/she asks for more, you will give the other half.

Conclusion

You should not be worried sick if the growth rate of your child does not tally with that of your neighbors' child of the same age. You are still questioning how much should a 10-year-old weigh? The answer is simple: people grow at their own pace. However, you can consult your doctor if you suspect there is an underlying condition affecting the growth of your son or daughter.