Chronic overeating without obesity in children with developmental disabilities: description of a new syndrome

Reported excessive eating was examined in children referred for developmental delay to our multidisciplinary diagnostic center and cause hypotheses were generated. Thirteen children were evaluated prospectively using a nutrition assessment, The Eating Behavior Questionnaire, the Achenbach Child Behavior Profile, and their multidisciplinary developmental evaluation. The children ate excessively but were not obese. Commonalities included being in foster care, prenatal drug exposure, and abnormally withdrawn and/or aggressive behavior. Nonobese hyperphagia appears to require emotional and behavioral assessment and dietary management. Hypotheses include prenatal drug exposure and a possible causal association with emotional and behavioral problems.