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Updated: Jan 7, 2026
04:23
A Treatment Package without Escape Extinction to Address Food Selectivity
Published on: August 21, 2015
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Decoding Picky Eating in Children: A Temporary Phase or a Hidden Health Concern?
Dorina Pjetraj1, Amarildo Pjetraj2, Dalia Sayed3
1Department of Pediatric Emergency, Salesi Children Hospital, AOU delle Marche, 60123 Ancona, Italy.
Nutrients
|December 31, 2025
Summary
Picky eating in children, or food selectivity, affects up to 50% of kids. While most children outgrow this, some need early intervention to prevent long-term nutritional and psychosocial issues.
Area of Science:
- Pediatric Nutrition
- Child Psychology
- Developmental Pediatrics
Background:
- Picky eating (PE), or food selectivity, is a common childhood feeding concern.
- While often transient, severe or persistent PE can cause nutritional deficiencies, growth issues, and psychosocial problems.
Purpose of the Study:
- To review the epidemiology, etiology, assessment, and management of picky eating in children.
- To differentiate PE from more severe feeding disorders like ARFID and PFD.
Main Methods:
- Narrative review of literature from 2015-2025, supplemented by earlier seminal works.
- Searches conducted across major scientific databases (PubMed, Web of Science, Embase, Medline, Google Scholar).
Main Results:
- PE prevalence ranges from 13-50%, peaking between ages 2-6.
- Factors include genetics, sensory issues, temperament, family practices, and feeding experiences.
- Assessment involves caregiver reports, observation, growth monitoring, and nutritional evaluation.
Conclusions:
- Most children overcome PE, but some require early recognition and family-centered interventions.
- Evidence-based strategies include parental education, repeated food exposure, and multidisciplinary support.
- Future research should focus on refining diagnostics and developing culturally sensitive, innovative therapies.
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