A brief review of the causes of underweight in adolescence is presented to help the practitioner determine the cause of underweight in his patient. Poor nutrition is determined by several key observations: (1) history; (2) physical examination; (3) amthropometric measurements—height, weight, triceps skin fold thickness (TSF), mid-arm circumference (MAC), and mid-arm muscle circumference (MAMC). Causes of the underweight state may be divided into three categories: disease states; environmental conditions; and factors peculiar to the adolescent.
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