Picky eating in children: Current clinical trends, practices, and observations within the Australian health‐care context

Abstract

Background/aim Childhood picky eating occurs when there is limited intake or variety of food and/or unwillingness to try new foods. Within research settings, standardised assessments are used to describe picky eating behaviours in children. However, little is known about assessment practices of occupational therapists. Similarly, occupational therapy interventions for picky eating in the literature focus on; providing strategies for parents, and working with the child on self‐feeding skills. Despite this, interventions and strategies utilised by occupational therapists in clinical practice within an Australian health‐care context are unknown. This study examines Australian health professionals' observations of picky eating behaviours, the use of childhood picky eating assessments and interventions, and differences between occupational therapists and other professionals. Methods Health professionals (n = 179) were recruited through professional organisations, such as Occupational Therapy Australia. Participants completed an online survey between March and May 2021. Independent variables were reported using descriptive statistics, with logistic regression used to consider differences between occupational therapists and other health professionals. Conventional content analysis was used to analyse responses to open‐ended questions. Results The final sample included 109 eligible participants, with an average of 8.5 years working with picky eaters. Results indicated picky eating behaviours aligned with those reported in the literature. Participants relied on clinical observations and workplace designed assessments. The most common interventions were education, coaching, and the sequential oral sensory approach to feeding. Occupational therapy participants were significantly more likely than other health professional participants to report always using coaching and education. Conclusion Although few health professionals used standardised or validated assessments, the use of education and coaching by occupational therapists aligned with the literature. Results highlight the need for more rigorous investigation to determine the sensitivity of current assessments to differentiate between clinical and typical picky eating, and the effectiveness of interventions for childhood picky eating.

Assessing the Correlation between Blood Trace Element Concentrations, Picky Eating Habits, and Intelligence Quotient in School-Aged Children

“…Another study focusing on Chinese preschoolers reported a higher prevalence in the 24-35month age group (36%) compared to the 6-11-month-old group (12%) [48]. The potential nutritional deficits associated with picky eating and its impact on children's growth status have been evaluated [49][50][51]. A longitudinal experiment involving 120 children aged between 2 and 11 years found no significant influence on growth [52].…”

Seletividade alimentar infantil: Uma revisão integrativa

“…É importante ressaltar que a prevenção da SAI também é de responsabilidade social e profissional atribuídas à equipe multidisciplinar (Chilman, et al, 2023;Switkowski, et al, 2020). Alguns estudos demonstraram também que o aleitamento materno é um fator de extrema importância na prevenção da SAI (Sampaio, et al, 2013;Switkowski, et al, 2020), bem como seguido de uma introdução alimentar adequada para crianças nascidas à termo ou prematuramente (Menezes, et al, 2018;Okuizumi, et al, 2020;Pagliaro, et al, 2016;Sampaio, et al, 2013;Switkowski, et al, 2020).…”

Assessing the Body Composition of “Picky Eaters” Using Body Impedance Analysis: An Experience From a Tertiary Care Center

“…Picky eating is a common behavior observed in childhood [1][2][3]. Picky eating is defined as the rejection of a wide range of familiar and unfamiliar foods, leading to limited and insufficient food intake [2,4].…”