PICKY AND FUSSY EATING IN CHILDREN
Abstract
Picky and fussy eating in children (choosy and faddy food choices) is classified in the group of eating and behavioral disorders when a child reluctantly eats already known specific food and/or refuses new foods (food neophobia), as well as a strong tendency to specific food. The consequences can be nutritional deficiencies that affect the health of children, but also the development of obesity. Parents of children who are picky about food state that their children eat monotonous food, that they demand food preparation in a specific way, and there is a prevalence of anger attacks when they are deprived of the food they prefer.
Avoidant restrictive food intake disorder (ARFID) is a newly classified disorder in the “Feeding and Eating Disorders” section of the Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders. ARFID may be diagnosed only by greater weight loss among some children or by great concern from their parents.
The behavior of children who are picky about food is related to some psychological problems of children, such as isolation, somatic disorders, anxiety and depression, a higher level of aggression, so the question arises as to what is the cause and what is the consequence. One should be careful with picky children, although this behavior decreases with age and does not cause significant nutritional problems, however, the ARFID study warns of individual extreme cases Prevention of the behavior of picky children is done by offering a variety of foods in early childhood, emphasizing the social value and comfort of the family meal.
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