Objective: The study aimed to investigate the prevalence of weight loss and associated risk factors in hospitalized children at Department of Internal Medicine 3, Children’s Hospital 2 in 2025.
Subjects and methods: A cross-sectional descriptive study was conducted on 178 childrens aged 0 to under 16 years who were admitted to Department of Internal Medicine 3, Children’s Hospital 2, from March to May 2025.
Results: The prevalence of weight loss on day 3 of hospitalization was 42.1%. Among these, 32.0% lost less than 2% of their body weight, 53.3% lost 2–<5%, and 14.7% lost 5–<10%. No cases were recorded with weight loss ≥10%. At discharge, 51.7% of children had weight loss, with 21.7% losing <2%, 47.8% losing 2–<5%, 28.3% losing 5–<10%, and 2.2% losing ≥10%. Statistically significant factors associated with weight loss on day 3 included children aged 12 to under 48 months and those consuming an adult-like diet. Factors significantly associated with weight loss at discharge included children aged 12 to under 48 months and those consuming porridge/gruel.
Conclusion: Weight loss during hospitalization was common and widespread among pediatric inpatients. There is a need to enhance nutritional counseling, closely monitor dietary intake and weight during hospitalization, and provide specific guidance to caregivers on appropriate meal plans to shorten treatment time and improve recovery outcomes.