Unexplained Weight Gain in Children

We have now gone through the most serious medical reasons for weight gain. Because signs of these problems can be subtle, it's always important to make an appointment with your doctor whenever your child has an unexplained change in weight.

As we said at the beginning, most of the time weight gain is caused by getting too many calories -- either because more are being eaten or fewer are being burned off through exercise.

Let's talk about exercise first.

Does your child vigorously exercise regularly? (Thirty minutes every day, at least four to five times a week, is best.) Your child should be breaking a sweat, or at least getting a little winded.

Yes, my child does exercise regularly.

No, my child doesn't exercise regularly.