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Early feeding problems in an affluent society. IV. Impact on growth up to two years of age
1Department of Paediatrics, University Hospital, Uppsala, Sweden.
Insights
Early feeding problems like refusing to eat (RTE) can significantly impair child growth. While vomiting issues resolved, RTE children showed lasting deficits in weight and length by age two.
Area of Science:
- Pediatrics
- Child Development
- Nutritional Science
Background:
- Early childhood feeding problems are common and can impact growth.
- Understanding the long-term effects of non-medical feeding issues is crucial for intervention.
Purpose of the Study:
- To investigate the growth patterns of children experiencing different types of early feeding problems.
- To compare the growth outcomes of children with feeding issues against a matched control group.
Main Methods:
- A longitudinal study followed 42 children with feeding problems (refusing to eat, colic, vomiting, hyperirritability) up to age two.
- Growth variables (weight, length) were measured, and standard deviation (SD) scores were calculated.
- Statistical analysis compared growth SD scores and rates of gain between affected children and controls.
Main Results:
- Children refusing to eat (RTE) and those with vomiting showed significant decreases in weight and length SD scores post-symptom onset.
- The RTE group exhibited a significantly lower rate of weight gain compared to controls.
- By age two, children with vomiting achieved catch-up growth, but the RTE group had significantly lower weight and length SD scores.
Conclusions:
- Refusing to eat (RTE) is associated with significant and persistent growth impairment in early childhood.
- Vomiting issues, while impacting initial growth, were associated with recovery and catch-up growth by age two.
- The highest risk for growth impairment was observed in children who refused all food or only accepted breast milk.
Abstract:
A study was undertaken to investigate growth in children with different types of early feeding problems without any obvious medical explanation. Altogether 42 children were studied and followed up to the age of two years. Twenty-five children refused to eat (RTE), nine had colic, seven had vomiting and one child displayed hyperirritability at mealtimes. Comparisons were made with controls matched for sex, age and residential area. Attained weight and length were measured frequently; rates of gain were calculated and the growth variables were transformed to standard deviation scores (SD scores). After the onset of the symptoms the SD scores of attained weight and length decreased significantly in the children with RTE and in those with vomiting (p less than 0.05), and the rate of weight gain was significantly lower in the RTE group than in the control group (p less than 0.001). At two years of age the children with vomiting had recovered and showed a complete catch-up growth, while the RTE group had attained significantly lower SD scores of attained weight (p less than 0.001) and length (p less than 0.001) than the control group. It was found that the risk of growth impairment was greatest in children who refused all food or all food except breast milk.