Prevalence of children's eating problems among 1 to 7 years old and its correlation with their physical development

Abstract

Objective To investigate the eating problems of outpatient infants, preschool age children(1 to 7 years old) enrolled in the Department of Child Health Care, Nanjing Maternal and Child Health Hospital Affiliated to Nanjing Medical University, and to analyze its correlation with children's physical development, so as to establish strategies for preventing abnormal eating habit in children. Methods A toll of 2 458 children met the criteria, and caregivers(mothers) completed the Children's Eating Behavior Questionnaires(CEBQ) in Department of Child Health Care, Nanjing Maternal and Child Health Hospital Affiliated to Nanjing Medical University were selected and the children's sociodemographic data and the morbidity of children eating problems were investigated.The correlation between children's body mass index(BMI) with children's eating problems was determined by using Chi-square test and multiple regression analysis. Results About 66.2%(1 627/2 458 cases) had normal weight, and 10.8%(257/2 458 cases) and 8.5%(210/2 458 cases) were overweight(BMI>P85-P95) or obese(BMI≥P95), respectively.The prevalence of eating behavior problems was detected during 25-36 months.For 1-to-7-year-old children, the highest detection rate of eating problems was inattention and eating at non-permanent locations, occupying 64.7% (1 590/2 458 cases) and 50.5%(1 241/2 458 cases), respectively; the prevalence rate of preferring to junk food was the lowest, accounting for 19.3%(474/2 458 cases). The children's eating problems had a high association with the children's BMI.Among them, children with eating problems, such as difficultly in accepting the varying food stuff[at the age of 12 month, odds ratio(OR)=11.50, 95% confidence interval(CI): 1.84-72.16] and eating at non-permanent locations( at 25-36 month, OR=1.77, 95%CI: 1.11-2.83), were prone to be wasting away; children with eating problems, such as preferring to junk food(at 12 month, OR=5.08, 95%CI: 1.43-18.00; 13-18 month, OR=2.17, 95%CI: 1.06-4.44), rarely eating vegetables or fruit (19-24 month, OR=4.06, 95%CI: 1.46-11.31) and inattention(12 month, OR=3.85, 95%CI: 1.52-9.79), were associated with overweight or obesity(all P<0.01). Conclusions There was a high prevalence of eating problems in children between 12-84 month(1-7 years old) in Nanjing.Improper children's eating behaviors can increase the risks of wasting away or children's overweight /obesity. Key words: Eating problems; Child; Obesity; Wasting; Body mass index