Association of Picky Eating with Growth, Nutritional Status, Development, Physical Activity, and Health in Preschool Children

Abstract

BackgroundThis study aimed to assess the prevalence of picky eating among preschool children and to evaluate the association between eating behavior and growth, physical activity, development, and health status.MethodsA structured questionnaire was used to conduct a cross-sectional descriptive study of 300 primary caregivers of children aged 2–4 years in Taiwan. Data collected included: demographics, food preferences, eating behavior, body weight, and height, development, physical activity, and records of medical illness. Data from children defined as picky or non-picky eaters based on parental’ questionnaire responses were analyzed and compared using standard statistical tests.ResultsThe mean age of the children was 2.95 years; 162 (54%) were picky eaters. Compared with non-picky eaters, z-score of weight-for-age, height-for-age, and body mass index (BMI)-for-age in picky eaters was 0.91, 0.73, and 0.44 SD lower, respectively. There were significant differences of rates in the weight-for-age, height-for-age, and BMI-for-age percentiles <15, between picky and non-picky eaters (P = 0.04, 0.023, and 0.005, respectively). Fear of unfamiliar places, poor physical activity, constipation, and high frequency (>2 times in the past 3 months) of medical illness were significantly higher in picky eaters (P = 0.01, 0.001, 0.044, and <0.001, respectively).ConclusionThe prevalence of picky eaters in preschool children was high, resulting in significant detrimental impacts on growth, nutritional status, development, physical activity, and health status.

Parental Influence in Forming Preschool Children’s Eating Behaviors—A Cross-Sectional Survey in Chongqing, China

“…Previous studies have shown that preschool children's eating behavior is related to kindergarten teachers' education, kindergarten environment [25], peers [26], parents' cognition and behavior [13][14][15] and children's physical activity [27]. Parents play an irreplaceable role in forming their children's dietary behavior [12][13][14][15]; therefore, we focused on the correlation between parental awareness and children's eating behavior.…”

Picky eating in children: causes and consequences

“…In a Korean paediatric gastroenterology clinic, constipation was mentioned as a characteristic of being a picky eater by about 27% of caregivers compared with 13% in a control group. Constipation was more common in picky eaters than non-picky eaters in Taiwan (prevalence of 19% vs 10%) (64) . In Generation R, Tharner et al (13) showed a bidirectional relationship between picky eating and constipation with a 'vicious circle' being set up between them.…”

Correlation of Picky Eating in Children’s Growth: A Systematic Review

“…Of the 15 studies reviewed, 9 articles were found which mentioned a positive relationship between eating and growth and the 6 articles mentioned were not related. From 9 articles that positively related to the growth of children, 3 articles mentioned the correlation in increasing body weight and 6 articles mentioned the correlation between the occurrence of weight loss (Chao, 2018;Galloway, Watson, Pitama, Farrow, & Llewellyn, 2018;Kwon, Shim, Kang, & Paik, 2017;Viljakainen, Figueiredo, Rounge, & Weiderpass, 2019;Volger et al, 2017). 6 articles that are negatively related, mention that the growth of children remains stable or normal but only related to diet or nutritional intake is even just an excessive concern by parents.…”