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Eating behavior disorders in Chilean infants
Susana Sánchez1, Carlos Castillo-Durán
1Institute of Nutrition and Food Technology, University of Chile, Macul 5540, Santiago, Chile.
Insights
Eating behavior disorders (EBD) in Chilean infants emerge early, linked to low birth weight and maternal history. Mothers of affected children report increased role difficulties.
Area of Science:
- Pediatrics
- Child Psychology
- Nutritional Science
Background:
- Eating behavior disorders (EBD) are prevalent in children, yet understudied in developing nations like Chile.
- Characterization of EBD in early childhood in Chile is largely unknown.
Purpose of the Study:
- To characterize eating behavior disorders (EBD) in Chilean children within their first two years of life.
Main Methods:
- A study involving 67 children (4-24 months), comprising 34 with EBD and 33 controls.
- Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders (DSM-IV) criteria were used for EBD diagnosis.
- Mothers provided information via a structured recall interview.
Main Results:
- EBD onset frequently occurred within the first six months, associated with introducing new foods.
- Children with EBD had lower birth weight, weight/length, and length/age z-scores compared to controls.
- Variables associated with EBD included lower birth weight, early weaning (before 4 months), and maternal history of EBD.
Conclusions:
- EBD in Chilean infants manifest early, associated with factors like low birth weight, reduced breastfeeding, maternal EBD history, and poorer growth.
- Mothers of children with EBD experience greater challenges and dissatisfaction in their maternal role.
Unlabelled:
Eating behavior disorders (EBD) are often observed in children. Most of the related research, however, has been performed in developed countries. In countries like Chile, characterization of food disorders during the first years of life is unknown.
Objective:
The goal of the current study is to characterize the EBD of Chilean children during the first 2 years of life.
Methods:
We studied 67 children (mean age = 5.4 months; range = 4-24 months). The study group (SG; according to criteria in the 4th ed. of the Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders) consisted of 34 children with EBD whose mothers spontaneously consulted for difficulties for feeding and the control group (CG) included 33 healthy children. A structured recall was applied to their mothers.
Results:
EBD onset was observed more frequently during the first semester of life and was associated with new foods. The children in the SG presented with lower birth weight (SG: 3,000 +/- 500 g; CG: 3,400 +/- 500 g; p < .001), weight/length (-0.4 +/- 1.0 vs. 0.8 +/- 1.1; p = .0001), and length/age z scores (-0.7 +/- 1.0 vs. -0.1 +/- 0.8; p = .007) than children in the CG. Early weaning before 4 months of age was more frequently found in the SG (44.1% vs. 12.1%; p = .04). The logistic regression showed as variables those associated with EBD, that is, birth weight and maternal history of EDB during her infancy (chi(2), p = .0003). Mothers of children in the SG felt that their maternal role was more difficult and less satisfactory than mothers of children in the CG (chi(2), p = .03).
Discussion:
EBDs in Chilean infants are observed during the first months of life and are associated with a lower birth weight, shortened exclusive breast-feeding, maternal history of EBD during their infancy, and lower physical growth. Mothers of children with EBD frequently feel that their maternal role is difficult and unsatisfactory.
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