Occurrence of eating difficulties in children self-reported by parents

TL;DR

This study found that 26% of Brazilian children aged 6 months to 6 years have eating difficulties, which are more severe in boys and linked to comorbidities.

Contribution

The study provides new insights into the prevalence and severity of eating difficulties in Brazilian children and their association with comorbidities.

Findings

Eating difficulties were present in 26% of the sample, more common in males.

Severe eating difficulties were significantly associated with autism spectrum disorder and comorbidities.

Mild and moderate eating difficulties were linked to multiple hospitalizations.

Abstract

To estimate the occurrence and characteristics of eating difficulties in Brazilian children.

Cross-sectional study, carried out from January to June 2022 through the completion of online forms and scales by parents and/or guardians of Brazilian children aged 6 months to 6 years and 11 months old.

The sample included 596 participants, the majority (54.5%) of whom were male, with a gestational age at birth of an average of 38 weeks (SD = 3.07). Eating difficulties were present in 26% of the sample, being more prevalent in males (59.36%). There were positive associations between family education and the presence and severity of eating difficulties. The presence of at least one disease or comorbidity was reported in 59.1% (n = 352) of the sample, with severe eating difficulties being associated with the presence of at least one of the mentioned comorbidities. Children diagnosed with autism spectrum disorder were significantly associated with severe eating difficulties (p = <0.001). The presence of some syndrome or genetic disease was associated (p = 0.021) with moderate eating difficulties. There was a significant association (p = 0.026) between the presence of mild and moderate eating difficulties and the presence of more than one hospitalization.

The occurrence of eating difficulties in Brazilian children is 26%, the majority of which are severe and associated with pre-existing comorbidities.

Estimar a ocorrência e características das dificuldades alimentares em crianças autorreportada pelos pais.

Estudo transversal, realizado de janeiro a junho de 2022 através do preenchimento de formulários e escalas online por pais e/ou responsáveis por crianças brasileiras de 6 meses a 6 anos e 11 meses de idade.

A amostra contou com 596 participantes, sendo a maioria (54,5%) do sexo masculino, com idade gestacional ao nascimento em média de 38 semanas (DP = 3.07). Dificuldades alimentares se mostraram presentes em 26% da amostra, sendo mais prevalentes nos indivíduos do sexo masculino (59,36%). Houve associações positivas entre a escolaridade familiar e a presença e gravidade das dificuldades alimentares. A presença de pelo menos uma doença ou comorbidade foi referida em 59,1% (n = 352) da amostra, sendo as dificuldades alimentares severas associadas a presença de pelo menos uma das comorbidades referidas. Crianças com diagnóstico de transtorno do espectro autista foram associadas significativamente com dificuldades alimentares severas (p = <0.001). A presença de alguma síndrome ou doença genética foi associada (p = 0,021) a dificuldade alimentar moderada. Verificou-se associação significativa (p = 0,026) entre a presença de dificuldades alimentares leves e moderadas com a presença de mais de uma hospitalização.

A ocorrência de dificuldades alimentares nas crianças brasileiras desse estudo é de 26%, sendo a maioria com gravidade severa, estando associada a comorbidades pré-existentes.

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