Pediatric feeding disorders among children with parental history of feeding disorders: a distinct group of patients with unique characteristics

Abstract

To investigate factors associated with pediatric feeding disorders (PFD) among children of parents that reported to have had feeding disorders during their own childhood compared to children with PFD with no history of parental PFD. MethodsWe retrospectively reviewed the medical records of children diagnosed with PFD according to the recent WHO-based de nition. Demographic and clinical characteristics of children with PFD with a parental history of PFD were compared to those of children with a PFD with no history of parental PFD. ResultsIncluded were 231 children with PFD (median [interquartile range] age 10 (5.5-29) months at diagnosis, 58% boys) of whom 133 children had parents without PFD and 98 children had parents with PFD.Unexpectedly, children of parents without PFD had a higher rate of low birth weight (28% vs. 19%, respectively, p = 0.007), more delivery complications (10% vs. 2%, p = 0.006), more hospitalizations (33% vs. 17%, p = 0.004), more prescription medications (27% vs. 18%, p = 0.05), and a higher percent of gastrostomy tube use (6% vs. 0, p = 0.02). Moreover, more parents with PFD had an academic background compared with parents without PFD (72% vs. 59%, p = 0.05). There were no signi cant group differences in sex, history of breastfeeding, parental marital status, or type of the child's feeding disorder. ConclusionsPFD among children with a parental history of PFD comprise a distinct group of patients with unique characteristics and outcomes. Since parental feeding history may explain their child's PFD in highly differing ways, treatment should be family-based and multidisciplinary. What is knownPediatric feeding disorder (PFD) is relatively common and its prevalence is increasing.Late parental eating disorders (anorexia nervosa, bulimia nervosa and binge eating) may impact their children's feeding and eating patterns.