title: Growth and development in Chinese pre-schoolers with picky eating behaviour: a cross-sectional study.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  To explore the associations between picky eating behaviour and pre-schoolers' growth and development. Corresponding potential mechanisms, such as nutrient and food subgroup intake, as well as micronutrients in the blood, will be considered.
  
  
  METHODS
  Picky eating behaviour was present if it was reported by parents. From various areas of China, 937 healthy children of 3-7 years old were recruited using a multi-stage stratified cluster sampling method. Children and their mothers' socio-demographic information and children's anthropometry, intelligence, blood samples, one 24-hour dietary intake record and food frequency questionnaire were collected. Z-scores and intelligence tests were used to evaluate growth and development (cognitive development). Multilevel models were employed to verify the associations between picky eating behaviour and growth and development.
  
  
  RESULTS
  The prevalence of picky eating as reported by parents was 54% in pre-schoolers. Compared with the non-picky eaters, weight for age in picky eaters was 0.14 z-score (95% CI: -0.25, -0.02; p = 0.017) lower while no significant difference was found in intelligence (p > 0.05). Picky eating behaviour lasting over two years was associated with lower weight for age, as was nit-picking meat (the prevalence from parents' perception was 23% in picky eaters) (p < 0.05). Picky eaters consumed fewer cereals, vegetables, and fish (p < 0.05), and had a lower dietary intake of protein, dietary fibre, iron, and zinc (p < 0.05). There were no differences in the concentrations of essential minerals in whole blood (p > 0.05).
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Picky eating behaviour is reported by parents in half of the Chinese pre-schoolers, which is negatively associated with growth (weight for age). Lower protein and dietary fibre as well as lower iron and zinc intakes were associated with picky eating as were lower intakes of vegetables, fish and cereals.
authors: Department of Nutrition and Food Hygiene, School of Public Health, Peking University Health Science Center, Beijing, China.
authors: Yong
authors: Y
authors: Xue
authors: Department of Social Medicine and Health Education, School of Public Health, Peking University Health Science Center, Beijing, China.
authors: Ai
authors: A
authors: Zhao
authors: Department of Nutrition and Food Hygiene, School of Public Health, Peking University Health Science Center, Beijing, China.
authors: Li
authors: L
authors: Cai
authors: Department of Nutrition and Food Hygiene, School of Public Health, Peking University Health Science Center, Beijing, China.
authors: Baoru
authors: B
authors: Yang
authors: Department of Nutrition and Food Hygiene, School of Public Health, Peking University Health Science Center, Beijing, China.
authors: Ignatius M Y
authors: IM
authors: Szeto
authors: Department of Social Medicine and Health Education, School of Public Health, Peking University Health Science Center, Beijing, China.
authors: Defu
authors: D
authors: Ma
authors: Department of Nutrition and Food Hygiene, School of Public Health, Peking University Health Science Center, Beijing, China.
authors: Yumei
authors: Y
authors: Zhang
authors: Department of Nutrition and Food Hygiene, School of Public Health, Peking University Health Science Center, Beijing, China.
authors: Peiyu
authors: P
authors: Wang
mesh_terms: D000886:Anthropometry; D001835:Body Weight; D002648:Child; D002657:Child Development; D002675:Child, Preschool; D002681:China; D016000:Cluster Analysis; D003071:Cognition; D003430:Cross-Sectional Studies; D015930:Diet Records; D004435:Eating; D005247:Feeding Behavior; D005260:Female; D005518:Food Preferences / Q000523:psychology; D006801:Humans; D007361:Intelligence Tests; D008297:Male; D018977:Micronutrients / Q000097:blood*; D009035:Mothers; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires; D014675:Vegetables
chemical_list: D018977:Micronutrients