Eating behaviour of children with failure to thrive: characterization and family correlates

INTRODUCTION: The knowledge on eating behaviour determinants allows the elaboration of strategies that prevent and treat their imbalances. Failure to thrive is reflection most severe cases feeding disorders among children. OBJECTIVES: To characterize children with failure family history and/or underweight. relate parents/caregivers’ behaviour. compare without older siblings regarding anthropometric measures. METHODOLOGY: In this cross-sectional research children’s was assessed using Children’s Eating Behaviour Questionnaire. For each child, one parent/caregiver responded Dutch Clinical data were collected during Paediatric Nutrition appointments. RESULTS: A sample 33 (3 13 years) included. Children presented higher scores in subscales related food avoidance (Emotional under-eating, Food fussiness, Slowness Satiety responsiveness) lower approach (Enjoyment food, responsiveness, Emotional over-eating Desire drink). One third had low weight or thrive. responsiveness positively associated external intake (R = 0.385, p 0.027), emotional overeating parents/caregiver’s restraint 0.485, 0.004). enjoyment (mean 2.59, sd 0.93, vs. 2.00, 0.60 0.046) fussiness 3.09, 0.91 3.77, 0.55, 0.017) compared those siblings. They also percentiles (n 17; median 16.5 1.0, 0.023). CONCLUSIONS: Family might be relevant, as prior underweight family. Having a more favourable behaviour, despite not reflecting directly status. Parents identify having great mediated by emotions.