title: How to Improve Eating Behaviour during Early Childhood.
abstract: Eating behaviour disorder during early childhood is a common pediatric problem. Many terminologies have been used interchangeably to describe this condition, hindering implementation of therapy and confusing a common problem. The definition suggests an eating behaviour which has consequences for family harmony and growth. The recent Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders, Fifth Edition does not cover the entire spectrum seen by pediatricians. Publications are substantive but level of evidence is most of the time low. This purpose of this review is to clarify terminology of eating behaviour problems during early childhood; including benign picky eating, limited diets, sensory food aversion, selective eating, food avoidance emotional disorder, pervasive refusal syndrome, tactile defensiveness, functional dysphagia, neophobia and toddler anorexia. This tool is proposed only to ease the clinical management for child care providers. Diagnostic criteria are set and management tools are suggested. The role of dietary counselling and, where necessary, behavioural therapy is clarified. It is hoped that the condition will make its way into mainstream pediatrics to allow these children, and their families, to receive the help they deserve.
authors: Department of Paediatrics and Child Health, University of Pretoria, Pretoria, South Africa.
authors: Robin John
authors: RJ
authors: Green
authors: Department of Child Health and Nutrition, Institute of Postgraduate Childhood Studies, Ain Shams University, Cairo, Egypt.
authors: Gamal
authors: G
authors: Samy
authors: Division of Hepatology and Nutrition, Department of Pediatric Gastroenterology, Sheikh Khalifa Medical City, Abu Dhabi, United Arab Emirates.
authors: Mohamad Saleh
authors: MS
authors: Miqdady
authors: Wyeth Nutrition, Dubai, United Arab Emirates.
authors: Mohamed
authors: M
authors: Salah
authors: Doctor Soliman Fakeeh Hospital, Jeddah, Kingdom of Saudi Arabia.
authors: Rola
authors: R
authors: Sleiman
authors: Cornell Medical College and Hamad Medical Corporation, Doha, Qatar.
authors: Hatim Mohamed Ahmed
authors: HM
authors: Abdelrahman
authors: Salmaniya Medical Complex, Manama, Kingdom of Bahrain.
authors: Fatima
authors: F
authors: Al Haddad
authors: Institute of Psychiatry, Ain Shams University, Cairo, Egypt.
authors: Mona M
authors: MM
authors: Reda
authors: Department of Paediatrics and Child Health, University of Pretoria, Pretoria, South Africa.
authors: Humphrey
authors: H
authors: Lewis
authors: Department of Pediatrics, University of Calabar and University of Calabar Teaching Hospital, Calabar, Nigeria.
authors: Emmanuel E
authors: EE
authors: Ekanem
authors: Department of Pediatrics, UZ Brussel, Vrije Universiteit Brussel, Brussels, Belgium.
authors: Yvan
authors: Y
authors: Vandenplas
keywords: Early childhood; Eating behaviour disorders; Eating disorders; Meals; Picky eater