RUNNING HEAD: Severely underweight 12-year-old Hispanic girl For this post I have been assigned to the severely underweight 12-year-old girl with underweight parents. I will explain the health issues and risks relevant to this child, as supported by the current research-based literature on this topic. I will also describe the additional information needed to further assess such a patient's weight-related health. I will list three questions I would ask the parents or caregivers to gather more information about the child, given their potential sensitivities. Finally, I will provide two strategies I could employ to encourage proactivity about their child's health and weight. Health Issues Not having a healthy weight can cause many problems for both the overweight and the underweight. For this patient the health issues are poor nutrition, impaired growth and development, longer and more severe illnesses, higher risk of dying, and lower cognitive functions [DeO]. Since her parents are also underweight there could be a lack of funds or unable to get food, digestive diseases, thyroid disease or genetics [Rus17]. Another thing to assess is her perception of her weight, if she overestimates her weight that could be a sign of eating disorders and can also lead to other risky behaviors [Mar14]. Additional Information Needed