Developmental characteristics of children aged 1-6 years with food refusal

Objective: The aim of this study was to compare the sociodemographic and developmental characteristics of children with food refusal and children with no history of feeding problems. Design: Cross-sectional case-control study. Sample. 30 children aged 1-6 years who were seen in the outpatient clinics for food refusal formed the case group, and 30 healthy children matched for age, sex, and socioeconomic status formed the control group. Methods. Anthropometric indices and early developmental characteristics of all the children in the study were evaluated and also their developmental levels were determined using the Ankara Developmental Screening Inventory. Results: The mean age of children with food refusal was 42.4 +/- 17.6 months, and the male/female ratio was 12/18. Children with food refusal had shorter mean breastfeeding durations and lower mean birth weights, body mass index, percentage height for age, and percentage weight for height values than those of the controls. There were no significant differences between the 2 groups in developmental delays. Conclusions: These results suggest that food refusal may be related to lower birth weight and shorter breastfeeding duration. Further research with larger samples is needed to clarify these relationships and the effects of feeding problems on the growth and development of children.