Children with idiopathic short stature are poor eaters and have decreased body mass index.
OBJECTIVE
In children with idiopathic short stature (ISS), studies investigating body mass index (BMI) or parameters of satiety regulation are scarce, and studies analyzing eating behavior are lacking.


METHODS
We recruited 214 children (123 index cases and 91 siblings) with ISS from 123 families. Affected children had to have a body height <5th percentile, or, in the case of siblings, the body height of 1 child had to be <5th percentile and the other <15th percentile. Medical histories were recorded by using structured and standardized interviews. Eating behavior was assessed by using the Child Eating Behavior Questionnaire. Percent energy intake as fat was assessed by using the Leeds Food Frequency Questionnaire. Endocrine markers of body weight regulation (leptin, ghrelin) were determined in serum.


RESULTS
Compared with population norms, BMI was significantly lower (mean: -0.33 standard deviation score). Furthermore, there was decreased food responsiveness (mean Child Eating Behavior Questionnaire score: 1.9; population mean: 2.4), reduced enjoyment of food (3.2 vs 3.9), emotional undereating (2.6 vs 3.0), lower desire to drink (2.0 vs 2.8), and increased fussiness over food (3.2 vs 2.9). When the sample was subdivided into the 2 groups of "good" and "poor" eaters according to the mothers' assessment of the current eating behavior, reduction in BMI as well as the behavioral characteristics already delineated in the total sample were found to be even more consistent in the subgroup of poor eaters. In the total sample of our children, as well as in both subgroups, serum leptin (adjusted for gender, BMI, and Tanner stage) was found to be moderately raised but did not differ between poor and good eaters. Total serum ghrelin was not different between poor and good eaters.


CONCLUSIONS
Our clinical, behavioral, and endocrinologic findings in patients with ISS point to an altered eating behavior that possibly contributes to their short stature.
Wudy
Stefan A
SA
Department of General Pediatrics, Center of Child and Adolescent Medicine, Justus Liebig University, Giessen, Germany. stefan.wudy@paediat.med.uni-giessen.de
Hagemann
Sandra
S
Dempfle
Astrid
A
Ringler
Gundula
G
Blum
Werner F
WF
Berthold
Lars D
LD
Alzen
Gerhard
G
Gortner
Ludwig
L
Hebebrand
Johannes
J
D001827:Body Height / Q000235:genetics; D015992:Body Mass Index; D002648:Child; D002664:Child Nutritional Physiological Phenomena; D002149:Energy Intake; D005247:Feeding Behavior; D005260:Female; D054439:Ghrelin; D013006:Growth Hormone / Q000097:blood; D006801:Humans; D018972:Insulin-Like Growth Factor Binding Protein 3 / Q000097:blood; D007334:Insulin-Like Growth Factor I / Q000032:analysis; D020738:Leptin / Q000097:blood; D008297:Male; D036361:Peptide Hormones / Q000097:blood
D054439:Ghrelin; D018972:Insulin-Like Growth Factor Binding Protein 3; D020738:Leptin; D036361:Peptide Hormones; D007334:Insulin-Like Growth Factor I; D013006:Growth Hormone