title: Eating patterns in a population-based sample of children aged 5 to 7 years: association with psychopathology and parentally perceived impairment.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  There is still a lack of research on childhood eating patterns and their correlates in relation to psychopathology and parentally perceived impact in general population samples. We aimed to determine which eating patterns were more likely to be identified as problematic by parents, and their impact and association with childhood psychopathology (emotional, behavioral, and pervasive developmental disorders) in a general population child cohort.
  
  
  METHODS
  We collected data as part of the 5- to 7-year-old follow-up of a randomly derived subsample of the Copenhagen Child Cohort 2000. Of the eligible 2912, 1327 (45.6%) children and parents participated in the study. Parents were interviewed using a composite instrument assessing eating behaviors and their impact. Associations with contemporaneous psychopathology were determined using logistic regression.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Five eating patterns were identified (good eating/overeating, picky eating, slow/poor eating, delayed eating behaviors, and snacking behaviors); among these, picky eating and slow/poor eating were described as a problem by more than half of parents and they also had high impact. Picky eating was associated with psychopathology across disorders. Emotional undereating was associated with emotional and functional somatic symptoms. A quarter of parents described at least one eating behavior as a problem.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Eating behaviors in a general population cohort were differentially associated with impact and psychopathology. Picky eating was highlighted among other behaviors as having negative correlates. Better knowledge of how childhood eating behaviors impact on children and their association with psychopathology will aid adequate assessment and treatment.
authors.affiliation: Brain and Behavioural Sciences Unit, UCL Institute of Child Health, London, UK. n.micali@ucl.ac.uk
authors.forename: Nadia
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: Micali
authors.forename: Emily
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Simonoff
authors.forename: Hanne
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Elberling
authors.forename: Charlotte U
authors.initials: CU
authors.lastname: Rask
authors.forename: Else Marie
authors.initials: EM
authors.lastname: Olsen
authors.forename: Anne Mette
authors.initials: AM
authors.lastname: Skovgaard
mesh_terms: D002648:Child; D002659:Child Development Disorders, Pervasive / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000523:psychology*; D002675:Child, Preschool; D004644:Emotions; D005247:Feeding Behavior / Q000523:psychology*; D005260:Female; D005500:Follow-Up Studies; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D010290:Parents / Q000523:psychology*; D011599:Psychopathology; D012307:Risk Factors; D012494:Sampling Studies; D006113:United Kingdom / Q000453:epidemiology