Infant and Early Childhood Feeding Difficulties are Not Associated with Anorexia Nervosa Subtype

Abstract

Infant and childhood feeding may be associated with adult weight. Picky childhood eating has been associated with development of Anorexia Nervosa (AN). AN has been divided into distinct subtypes; little was known about differential predictors of subtype. The aim of the current study was to explore the relation between AN subtype and infant feeding, gastrointestinal (GI) problems prior to AN, and picky‐eating in early childhood. Three AN subtypes were identified: restrictive type, purging type (no binging), and binging type. The study sample was 325 women from the Genetics of Anorexia Nervosa study who had a lifetime history of AN and whose mothers provided retrospective information regarding feeding from the infant and childhood feeding questionnaire. Three stepwise logistic regressions were applied to predict AN subtype. The predictors were: breastfed, feeding schedule, and age solid food was introduced; infant vomiting, colic, GI problems before AN onset; and picky eating at 1 year and picky eating between ages 1–5. No model predicted AN subtype in this sample. Infant and childhood feeding factors are unlikely to be predictive of AN subtype.Funding: NIH (MH66117), T32MH07669403.