Factors Associated with Feeding Problems in Young Children with Gastrointestinal Diseases

Abstract

Feeding problems are associated with the consumption of a limited amount or restricted variety of foods and often occur in children with gastrointestinal diseases. The majority of studies to date do not use valid and reliable measurements to detect feeding problems. The aim of this cross-sectional study was to assess behavioral and skill-based feeding problems in young children with gastrointestinal diseases by using a well-established parent-reported feeding measure and identify demographic, anthropometric, and environmental factors associated with maladaptive feeding behaviors in this pediatric population. Parents completed the Greek version of the Behavioral Pediatrics Feeding Assessment Scale (BPFAS) and self-reported questionnaires assessing mealtime environment and parental feeding practices. It was found that 18.6% of the sample had abnormal Total Frequency Score (TFS) (frequency of problematic feeding behaviors) and 39.5% had abnormal Total Problem Score (TPS) (number of behaviors perceived as problematic by parents). Younger children, with lower body mass index, lower birth weight, and only children were more likely to have feeding problems. The study showed that parent-reported feeding problems are increased in young children with gastrointestinal diseases and are associated with specific aspects of mealtime environment and parental feeding practices.

Caregiver health-related quality of life 1 year following pediatric gastrostomy tube placement

“…In addition to changes in caregiver HRQoL, we observed a high prevalence of comorbidities among children undergoing gastrostomy tube placement. These findings are consistent with those reported in studies of children with feeding difficulties [ 16 , 17 ] and those reported in studies of children requiring gastrostomy tube placement [ 13 , 18 ]. Prior reports suggest that these comorbidities increase caregiver burden, which may decrease caregiver quality of life [ 4 , 13 ].…”

Developmental Feeding Stages and Their Impact on Child Feeding Behavior

“…Our study also focused on the early stage of self-feeding which is finger feeding. There is evidence to support that failure to develop self-feeding skills is associated with feeding difficulties (1,32). Finger feeding initiation between 6 and 9 months was negatively associated with BPFAS scores in healthy children in our study.…”

The Polish Version of the Avoidant/Restrictive Food Intake Disorder Questionnaire—Parents Report (ARFID-Q-PR) and the Nine Items Avoidant/Restrictive Food Intake Disorder Screen—Parents Report (NIAS-PR): Maternal Perspective

“…Three patterns of ARFID restrictive eating have consistently been described, in both community and clinical samples: selective/neophobic (i.e., “picky” eating), poor appetite or limited interest in food, and fear of aversive consequences from eating [ 5 , 6 , 7 ]. Although largescale population prevalence estimates are not available, ARFID has been shown to be common in both community and clinical pediatric samples [ 5 , 8 , 9 ]. The short history of research on ARFID provides important descriptive data, but it is still insufficient for understanding its specifics and planning effective forms of treatment to patients and their families.…”

“…Common comorbidities of ARFID include neurodevelopmental disorders (e.g., autism), sensory integration disorders, alexithymia, intellectual disability, difficult temperament, high levels of externalization and internalization, psychomotor hyperactivity, anxiety disorders, obsessive-compulsive disorders, depressive disorders, suicide attempts and self-harm [ 13 , 15 , 18 , 19 , 20 , 21 , 22 ]. It is also not uncommon for ARFID to develop from childhood health problems that lead to gastrointestinal disturbances [ 9 , 23 , 24 , 25 ]. In such a case, the disorder results most often from the fear of negative somatic consequences of food intake (e.g., pain) and may be maintained by inadvertent negative reinforcement of disruptive mealtime behaviors by caregivers [ 25 , 26 ].…”