- For patients & carers
- For parents
What are the Benefits of Tube Feeding?
Your healthcare professional has suggested tube feeding for you or the one you care for.
It will help the body to get the needed nutrients, because now it's not getting them by eating. Without the right amount of nutrition, there is a risk of:
- Less energy and strength: Taking in fewer calories (energy) and less protein than needed may cause tiredness. This can impact nearly everything you do - from shopping and cooking to work and play. In the long run, both your muscle tone and physical strength can also start to decrease
- Unplanned weight loss: Taking in fewer calories than your body needs leads to weight loss. This can make those living with an illness or disease more open to poor health and response to treatment
- Weaker immune system: Since the gut is part of your immune system, poor nutrition may weaken the immune system.
Tube feeding is beneficial because it lowers these risks. For many, tube feeding is the only choice available to keep them alive.
While it takes time to adapt, tube feeding may bring real upsides to your health and well-being. It can also take away some of the stress that comes with trying to eat by mouth. As well as the worry about having to meet your nutritional needs.
What are the Benefits of Tube Feeding?
Your healthcare professional has suggested tube feeding for your child.
It will help their body to get the needed nutrients, because now it's not getting them by eating. Without the right amount of nutrition, there is a risk of:
- Failure to thrive: Taking in fewer calories and nutrients than your child needs prevents healthy weight gain
- Reduced energy and strength: Taking in fewer calories (energy) and less protein than needed may cause tiredness. This can impact nearly everything your child does. In the long run, both muscle tone and physical strength can also start to decrease
- Weaker immune system: Since the gut is part of your immune system, poor nutrition may weaken the immune system.
Tube feeding is beneficial for children because it lowers these risks. For many children, tube feeding is the only choice available to keep them alive.
While it takes time to adapt, tube feeding may bring real upsides to your child's health and well-being. It can also take away some of the stress that comes with trying to feed your child by mouth. As well as the worry about having to meet their nutritional needs.
