Does picky eating affect weight-for-length measurements in young children?
OBJECTIVE
Picky eating is a major source of parental concern, and children with picky eating habits are potentially at risk for nutritional deficits. This research aimed to determine whether picky eating is related to being underweight in young children.


METHODS
Participants included 34 children with picky eating behavior who were referred to the Pediatric Feeding and Nutrition Clinic for evaluation and 136 healthy controls.Weight and height measurements were obtained, and weight-to-length data were calculated for each child.


RESULTS
In all, 7 of 34 children (20.6%) in the picky eaters group and 9 of 136 children (6.6%) in the control group were underweight (P = .02). Underweight was found in 15 children (14.2%) at or under 36 months and in 1 child (1.6%) older than 36 months (P = .002).


CONCLUSIONS
Children with picky eating habits, especially those younger than 3 years of age, are at increased risk of being underweight.
Ekstein
Sivan
S
Child Neurodevelopmental Center, Meuhedet Health Services, Jerusalem, Israel. sivanek@yahoo.com
Laniado
David
D
Glick
Benjamin
B
D000367:Age Factors; D001827:Body Height; D001835:Body Weight; D002657:Child Development; D002664:Child Nutritional Physiological Phenomena; D002675:Child, Preschool; D004435:Eating / Q000523:psychology; D005247:Feeding Behavior; D005260:Female; D005518:Food Preferences; D006801:Humans; D007223:Infant; D007557:Israel / Q000453:epidemiology; D008297:Male; D015995:Prevalence; D012189:Retrospective Studies; D012307:Risk Factors; D013851:Thinness / Q000453:epidemiology* / Q000209:etiology*; D013997:Time Factors