Appetitive characteristics in children with cystic fibrosis: Questionnaire validation and associations with
Afroditi Papantoni1, Shauna P Reinblatt2, Robert L Findling1
1Division of Child and Adolescent Psychiatry, Department of Psychiatry and Behavioral Sciences, Baltimore, MD, USA.
Background:
Appetitive characteristics are an important factor in the nutritional status of children with cystic fibrosis (CF). We administered a brief parent-report eating behavior questionnaire, validated in healthy children, to determine the relationship between appetitive characteristics and body weight in children with CF.
Methods:
Parents of children attending the Johns Hopkins Pediatric CF Clinic completed the Child Eating Behavior Questionnaire (CEBQ) at a routine clinic visit. Responses were correlated with anthropometric and other clinical data.
Results:
Parents of 64 children with CF aged 7.74 ± 3.17 years (mean ± SD) completed the CEBQ. The CEBQ subscales demonstrated good internal consistency (Cronbach's α = 0.76-0.94). Higher scores on food avoidance subscales (Slowness in Eating) were associated with lower body mass index (BMI) z-scores, and higher scores on food approach subscales (Food Responsiveness, Enjoyment of Food, Emotional Overeating) with higher BMI z-scores. Children with feeding aids (i.e. gastric tube or appetite-stimulating medications) demonstrated greater food avoidance (Slowness in Eating) and lesser food approach (Enjoyment of Food) when compared to those without feeding aids. Children with pancreatic insufficiency also demonstrated greater food avoidance (Slowness in Eating).
Conclusions:
The CEBQ can be used in a clinical setting to identify children with CF with appetitive characteristics associated with difficulty gaining weight. These children could potentially benefit from earlier interventions to aid in weight gain. Characterization of appetite using the CEBQ could aid investigation of the biological etiology of low appetite, and optimization of clinical and parental approaches to achieving a healthy nutritional status.
Related Concept Videos
01:23Cystic Fibrosis: Pathogenesis
CF is primarily caused by a genetic mutation in a chromosome 7 gene coding for the cystic fibrosis transmembrane conductance regulator (CFTR) protein. The most common gene mutation leading to CF is the ΔF508 mutation,...
01:24Cystic Fibrosis: Management
Sinus disease and chronic...
02:11The Roles of Bacteria and Fungi in Plant Nutrition
01:29Reliability and Validity
01:23Characteristics of Life
01:27Parentral Nutrition: Centeral and Peripheral Parental Nutrition
PN can be administered through two primary routes:
1. Central Parenteral Nutrition (CPN):
CPN involves delivering a high concentration of nutrients through a large vein. This is typically achieved using a Peripherally Inserted Central Catheter (PICC) or,...