Adolescent gains 9 lb in 3 months -- normal or abnormal?

[JeanettePNP, MSN, RN, NP]

An obese 14yo male gains 9 lb in 3 months. Is this a normal growth spurt or a symptom of pathology?

From the research I've done so far it seems that a 15 lb weight gain in a year is normal during an adolescent growth spurt, and that growth can be concentrated in a few months, so this is not necessarily a pathologic weight gain (other than the obesity problem). Am I missing anything?

[akulahawkRN, ADN, RN, EMT-P]

You would need to find out if he's eating an extra 3,000 Calories / week or not being active to the same Calorie level. If calories in and out match and you're still seeing that kind of weight gain, something is wrong. That would mean that his BMR has dropped off by about 500 calories/day. Being that he's 14, I'd expect that his BMR is still pretty close to normal for his age. Look to the food first, then activity level.

Watch him closely... if it's truly a growth spurt, the weight gain will taper off and his appetite will also decrease at the same time.

[mommywithplenty]

You need to look at height, if the teen is growing taller you would expect weight gain, w/o weight gain the teen would be losing weight.