An overweight toddler is diagnosed with iron deficiency anemia. Which is the most likely explanation for the anemia?

Question

An overweight toddler is diagnosed with iron deficiency anemia.  Which is the most likely explanation for the anemia?

Quizplus · Accepted Answer

Iron deficiency anemia is the most common chronic nutritional disorder in children. There are many risk factors for iron deficiency, including insufficient dietary intake, premature birth, delayed introduction of solid food, and consumption of cow's milk before age 1 year. One common cause in toddlers is excessive milk intake, over 24 oz/day. In addition to becoming overweight, toddlers who consume too much milk develop iron deficiency due to the likely exclusion of iron-rich foods in favor of milk, a poor source of available iron. Treatment of iron deficiency anemia includes oral iron supplementation and increased consumption of iron-rich foods (eg, leafy green vegetables, red meats, poultry, dried fruit, fortified cereal). It is also important to limit milk intake (16-24 oz/day) in toddlers to ensure a balanced diet. (Option A) Red meat and other meat products are considered good sources of dietary iron. However, clients may be at risk for obesity if meat consumption exceeds protein and caloric needs. (Option C) Gastrointestinal blood loss, which can occur if infants under age 1 year are fed cow's milk, is a potential cause of iron deficiency anemia. However, excessive milk intake is a more common cause, particularly in clients over age 1 year. (Option D) Impaired or decreased iron transfer is a potential cause of iron deficiency anemia, particularly in preterm infants or infants born in multiples. However, iron stores received from the mother are typically depleted by age 5-6 months (2-3 months for preterm infants); after this point, iron must be acquired through dietary sources. Because this client is a toddler (age 1-3 years), impaired iron transfer is not a likely cause of the current anemia. Educational objective: Iron deficiency anemia is the most common nutritional disorder in children. Risk factors include premature birth, cow's milk before age 1 year, and excessive milk intake in toddlers. Prevention and treatment are achieved through proper nutrition (eg, meat, leafy green vegetables, fortified cereal) and supplementation.

An Overweight Toddler Is Diagnosed with Iron Deficiency Anemia