It has been observed that children who stool withhold and have encopresis may not maintain their expected weight gain and growth in height.
A child who is full of stool may experience abdominal bloating and early satiety (fullness shortly after eating). As a result, these children may limit their food intake and calories. This may lead to any of the following:
- less than anticipated weight gain, or
- weight stabilization (maintaining the same weight at a time when the child should be gaining), or
- weight loss
Limited or poor weight gain may impact a child’s growth, causing growth to slow down or plateau. When this happens, the child does not grow at the expected rate.
Your child’s pattern of weight gain and growth can evaluated by a review of height and weight measurements recorded at the pediatrician or health provider visits. Ask to see your child’s growth chart and have it explained to you.
If you are concerned about your child’s pattern of weight gain and growth, if your child’s shoe size or pant size does not seem to be changing as expected, if you notice that your child’s height is falling behind that of classmates, talk to your pediatrician or health care provider.
Issues of weight gain and growth are one of many reasons we believe in the importance of effective and appropriate treatment for withholding and encopresis.
