Occurrence of eating difficulties in children self-reported by parents

To estimate the occurrence and characteristics of eating difficulties in Brazilian children.

Cross-sectional study, carried out from January to June 2022 through the completion of online forms and scales by parents and/or guardians of Brazilian children aged 6 months to 6 years and 11 months old.

The sample included 596 participants, the majority (54.5%) of whom were male, with a gestational age at birth of an average of 38 weeks (SD = 3.07). Eating difficulties were present in 26% of the sample, being more prevalent in males (59.36%). There were positive associations between family education and the presence and severity of eating difficulties. The presence of at least one disease or comorbidity was reported in 59.1% (n = 352) of the sample, with severe eating difficulties being associated with the presence of at least one of the mentioned comorbidities. Children diagnosed with autism spectrum disorder were significantly associated with severe eating difficulties (p = <0.001). The presence of some syndrome or genetic disease was associated (p = 0.021) with moderate eating difficulties. There was a significant association (p = 0.026) between the presence of mild and moderate eating difficulties and the presence of more than one hospitalization.

The occurrence of eating difficulties in Brazilian children is 26%, the majority of which are severe and associated with pre-existing comorbidities.