Feeding and eating disorders of childhood

Preterm birth (PTB) places a considerable emotional, psychological, and financial burden on parents, families, health care resources, and society as a whole. Efforts to estimate these costs have typically considered the direct medical costs of the initial hospital and outpatient follow-up care but have not considered non-financial costs associated with PTB such as adverse psychosocial and emotional effects, family disruption, strain on relationships, alterations in self-esteem, and deterioration in physic

Increased fruit and vegetable consumption early in life may lead to life-long intake of fruits and vegetables, which in turn may be beneficial for weight control and other health outcomes in later life. Although health officials worldwide recommend delaying solid foods until 6 months of age, younger infants often receive solid food, which may affect later obesity rates. The timing of introduction to solid foods is important both nutritionally and developmentally and may affect acceptance of foods both in

Complementary food is needed when breast milk (or infant formula) alone is no longer sufficient for both nutritional and developmental reasons. The timing of its introduction, therefore, is an individual decision, although 6 months of exclusive breastfeeding can be recommended for most healthy term infants. The new foods are intended to complement ongoing breastfeeding with those dietary items whose intake has become marginal or insufficient. Both breastfeeding and complementary feeding can have dir

Possible interactions between nervous and immune systems in neuro-psychiatric disorders remain elusive. Levels of brain dopamine transporter (DAT) have been implicated in several impulse-control disorders, like attention deficit / hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) and obsessive-compulsive disorder (OCD). Here, we assessed the interplay between DAT auto-immunity and behavioural / neurochemical phenotype.|Possible interactions between nervous and immune systems in neuro-psychiatric disorders remain elusive. Leve

Reduced oral intake is a known complication of bone marrow transplant (BMT) and may result in short-term tube feedings. Although most children return to typical eating habits, a subgroup of children requires intervention. The focus of the current

This study aimed to identify predictors of controlling feeding practices in both mothers and fathers of young children.|Cross-sectional, questionnaire design.|Nursery schools within the United Kingdom recruited participants.|Ninety-six mothers and fathers comprising 48 mother-father pairs of male and female children aged 2 to 5 years.|Parents' child feeding practices, eating psychopathology, general mental health symptomology, and their children's eating behaviors and temperament.|Preliminary correlations; stepwise regressions.|Maternal controlling feeding was predicted by children's eating behaviors (emotional over- and undereating), child temperament (sociability), and maternal general mental health symptoms. Paternal reports of children's eating behaviors (slow eating and emotional undereating) were the only significant predictors of fathers' controlling feeding practices.|Mothers' and fathers' feeding practices seem to be better linked to child characteristics than to the presence

Reduced oral intake is a known complication of bone marrow transplant (BMT) and may result in short-term tube feedings. Although most children return to typical eating habits, a subgroup of children requires intervention. The focus of the current investigation was to retrospectively identify the incidence and characteristics of feeding and swallowing disorders in pediatric patients during the first 100 days after BMT and to determine what factors contribute to feeding/swallowing disorders past the BMT acute phase (100+ d). The charts of 292 sequential patients undergoing BMT were reviewed. Seventy-two children (25%) were referred for feeding and/or swallowing intervention with a mean age of 78.6 months (SD=63.4). Sixteen patients underwent instrumental evaluation with swallowing dysfunction identified in 50% (n=8) of the patients. Oral-motor dysfunction was reported in 33% (n=24) and feeding disorders occurred in 61% (n=44) of the patients referred for treatment. This

In children with inherited metabolic disorders (IMD), feeding difficulties are often assumed to be inherent, although there is little evidence describing their frequency or severity. The present study aimed to describe feeding patterns/difficulties among children with IMD on protein-restricted diets from one centre.|Data from an observational, pilot study of 20 IMD children, nine females (median age, 2.7years; range, 1-6years) were compared with data obtained from a retrospective historical group of 15 healthy children (HC), 12 females, aged 1-5years (median 3.0years). Caregivers completed a feeding assessment questionnaire, and three separate video recordings were taken of each child eating at home.|The main feeding problems identified by the caregivers' questionnaire in the IMD group (compared to HC) were: poor appetite (55% versus 7%; P=0.004), limited food variety (55% versus 27%; P=0.04) and lengthy mealtimes (70% versus 20%; P=0.006). During

Eating is necessary for survival, gives great pleasure, and can be perturbed leading to undernutrition, overnutrition, and eating disorders. The development of feeding in humans relies on complex interplay between homeostatic mechanisms; neural reward systems; and child motor, sensory, and socioemotional capability. Furthermore, parenting, social influences, and the food environment influence the development of eating behavior. The rapid expansion of new knowledge in this field, from basic science to clinical and community-based research, is expected to lead to urgently needed research in support of effective, evidence-based prevention and treatment strategies for undernutrition, overnutrition, and eating disorders in early childhood. Using a biopsychosocial approach, this review covers current knowledge of the development of eating behavior from the brain to the individual child, taking into account important contextual influences.

Most patients with Rett syndrome (RTT) have both gastrointestinal problems and somatic growth failure, including microcephaly. Ghrelin is a peptide hormone involved in growth hormone secretion, interdigestive motility, and feeding behavior. Plasma ghrelin assays have previously been described for other neurodevelopmental disorders. To examine the pathophysiology of RTT, we measured plasma levels of ghrelin in patients with RTT. A case-control study examining plasma levels of ghrelin, serum growth hormone, and insulin-like growth factor-1 (IGF-1) was performed on 27 patients with RTT and 53 controls. Plasma levels of total (T)- and octanoyl (O)-ghrelin were significantly lower in patients with RTT than in controls. Plasma levels of T-ghrelin correlated significantly with serum IGF-1 levels and head circumference. Significantly lower levels of plasma T-ghrelin and O-ghrelin were observed in RTT patients with eating difficulties, while lower levels of plasma T-ghrelin were observed in

Care- takers often overestimate the childs energy intake and underestimate the time spent feeding the child ( 33, 34). ... Because the task of feeding these children may be difficult and time consuming, the amount of food provided may be insufficient

review articles and chapters Exclusions: Theoretical articles Case studies Studies focusing on child developmental or eating disorders 22 CrS: 19 Longitudinal: 3 Summarize associations between parental feeding styles and child eating ... Several

It may be necessary to involve other specialists to assess the developmental stage of your child and/or your childs feeding skills. ... Pain related to eating, or food refusal causing weight loss or poor weight gain If your child develops

Clinical practice guideline for eating disorders.

Heartburn or chest pain Hematemesis Dysphagia, odynophagia Wheezing Stridor Feeding refusal Cough Hoarseness Erosive esophagitis Esophageal stricture Barretts esophagus Laryngeal/pharyngeal inflammation