If birth weight of a child is 2.5 kg, the expected weight at one year is:

Appeared in: IGNOU PB Bsc Entrance-2022

Explanation

A healthy infant's weight typically triples by their first birthday.
This is a standard pediatric growth milestone used to assess development.
For a child born at 2.5 kg, the expected weight at one year is calculated by multiplying the birth weight by three.
Calculation: 2.5 kg × 3 = 7.5 kg.

Option A: 8 kg is an incorrect calculation. It does not correspond to the standard tripling of a 2.5 kg birth weight.
Option C: 5 kg represents a doubling of the birth weight (2.5 kg x 2).
Option D: 5 kg is nearly four times the birth weight, which is an excessive gain for one year.

Clinical Relevance

Nursing practice connection: This is primarily an exam-oriented knowledge point with limited direct bedside application, so retain Infant weight gain milestones as background academic context rather than a clinical decision trigger.
Nurses use these weight milestones as a critical tool for assessing an infant's growth and nutritional status during well-child visits.
Deviations from these expected milestones can be an early indicator of underlying health issues, such as feeding problems, metabolic disorders, or 'failure to thrive', prompting further investigation and intervention.
What if the child's weight at 1 year was only 6 kg? This would be a significant deviation from the expected 7.5 kg, indicating growth faltering. The nurse would need to perform a detailed nutritional assessment, inquire about feeding practices, and refer the child for further medical evaluation.

How to Approach the Question

First, identify the key information given: birth weight (2.5 kg) and the target age (one year).
The question asks for the 'expected weight', which points to a standard developmental milestone.
Recall the rule of thumb for infant weight gain: birth weight doubles by 5-6 months and triples by one year.
Apply the 'tripling' rule to the given birth weight: 2.5 kg × 3.
Calculate the result: 7.5 kg.
Compare the calculated weight with the given options and select the one that matches.

Concept Tested & Keywords

QEztrklZcxT44Kz8SIIWL2

E6 Ghai Essential Pediatrics(pp 26-904 of 913) p. 10-12

E6 Parks TextBook of Preventive & Social Medicine part 2 — Subpart A (pp 1-232 of 464) p. 38-40

Practise the full IGNOU PB Bsc Entrance-2022

Attempt every question from this paper in a timed mock, then review the full solution for each one.