Question
My baby has recently become particularly picky about food, looking thin and lackluster, and is shorter than peers. A check-up revealed delayed growth in adolescence. Will they develop normally as adults?
Answer
Delayed growth refers to a reduction in the rate of growth and development in children, which can manifest in various ways, including delays in physical, cognitive, language, and psychological development. It is necessary to clarify the cause of delayed growth in children. If it is due to malnutrition, adjusting dietary intake can improve growth and development; if it is due to certain congenital genetic metabolic diseases, such as hypothyroidism, treatment of the primary disease is required before significant improvement in growth delay can be achieved.