Perceptions of food intake and weight status among parents of picky eating infants and toddlers in China: A cross-sectional study.
Previous studies have suggested that children that are picky eaters may have a different and less varied diet than non-picky children, but the literature on picky eating in Chinese children is limited.



To assess the prevalence of picky eating in 6-35 month-old Chinese children, and to explore how parents' perceptions of picky eating relate to children's intake and body composition.



1414 6-35 month-old infants and toddlers from 8 Chinese cities were included in this study. Questionnaires were used to collect information on family demographic factors, child picky eating behaviors, food group rejection, and parents' perception of child weight status. Dietary intake data was collected via 24-h recall. Children's length/height and weight were measured.



The reported prevalence of picky eating was higher in 24-35 month-olds (36% of children) compared to 6-11 month-olds (12%). There were no consistent significant differences in dietary intakes of nutrients between picky and non-picky eaters. Picky eating children whose parents indicated that they avoided eggs had lower intake of this food group compared to non-picky eaters, whereas those reported to avoid grains or meat had higher intakes of those food groups. Weight status was underestimated by parents of both picky and non-picky children.



Picky eating seems to occur at similar prevalence rates in China as has been reported in other countries. Parents' perceptions of food refusal do not reflect actual intakes, nor do nutrient intakes of picky eaters show additional gaps compared to non-picky eating children. In healthy children with typical growth patterns, picky eating seems to be a normal phase of development experienced by some children, without substantial consequences on their nutrient or food group intakes.
Department of Social Medicine and Health Education, School of Public Health, Peking University Health Science Center, No.38 Xueyuan Road, Haidian District, Beijing 100191, People's Republic of China.
Ziyi
Z
Li
Nestlé Research Center Lausanne, Vers-chez-les-Blanc, PO Box 44, 1000 Lausanne 26, Switzerland.
Klazine
K
van der Horst
Nestlé Research Center Lausanne, Vers-chez-les-Blanc, PO Box 44, 1000 Lausanne 26, Switzerland. Electronic address: lisa.fries@rdls.nestle.com.
Lisa R
LR
Edelson-Fries
Nestlé Research Center Beijing, Building E-F, No.5 Dijin Road, Haidian District, Beijing 100095, People's Republic of China; Department of Nutrition and Food Hygiene, School of Public Health, Peking University Health Science Center, No.38 Xueyuan Road, Haidian District, Beijing 100191, People's Republic of China.
Kai
K
Yu
Department of Social Medicine and Health Education, School of Public Health, Peking University Health Science Center, No.38 Xueyuan Road, Haidian District, Beijing 100191, People's Republic of China.
Lili
L
You
Department of Nutrition and Food Hygiene, School of Public Health, Peking University Health Science Center, No.38 Xueyuan Road, Haidian District, Beijing 100191, People's Republic of China.
Yumei
Y
Zhang
Nestlé Research Center Beijing, Building E-F, No.5 Dijin Road, Haidian District, Beijing 100095, People's Republic of China.
Gerard
G
Vinyes-Pares
Department of Social Medicine and Health Education, School of Public Health, Peking University Health Science Center, No.38 Xueyuan Road, Haidian District, Beijing 100191, People's Republic of China.
Peiyu
P
Wang
Department of Social Medicine and Health Education, School of Public Health, Peking University Health Science Center, No.38 Xueyuan Road, Haidian District, Beijing 100191, People's Republic of China.
Defu
D
Ma
Department of Nutrition and Food Hygiene, Chinese Center for Disease Control and Prevention, No. 155 Changbai Road, Changping District, Beijing 102206, People's Republic of China.
Xiaoguang
X
Yang
Department of Health Education, School of Public Health, Soochow University, No.199 Renai Road, Suzhou Industrial Park, Suzhou 215325, Jiangsu, People's Republic of China.
Liqiang
L
Qin
School of Public Health and General Medicine, Guangzhou Medical University, No.195 Dongfeng West Road, Guangzhou 510182, Guangdong, People's Republic of China.
Jiaji
J
Wang
D001835:Body Weight; D002652:Child Behavior / Q000523:psychology*; D002675:Child, Preschool; D002681:China; D003430:Cross-Sectional Studies; D004032:Diet; D004040:Dietary Carbohydrates / Q000008:administration & dosage; D004041:Dietary Fats / Q000008:administration & dosage; D004043:Dietary Fiber / Q000008:administration & dosage; D004044:Dietary Proteins / Q000008:administration & dosage; D004435:Eating / Q000523:psychology*; D005260:Female; D005518:Food Preferences / Q000523:psychology*; D006801:Humans; D007223:Infant; D008297:Male; D011939:Mental Recall; D018977:Micronutrients / Q000008:administration & dosage; D015596:Nutrition Assessment; D010290:Parents / Q000523:psychology; D010465:Perception; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires
D004040:Dietary Carbohydrates; D004041:Dietary Fats; D004043:Dietary Fiber; D004044:Dietary Proteins; D018977:Micronutrients
Feeding; Infant; Picky eating; Toddler; Weight