Eating behavior disorders in Chilean infants

Eating behavior disorders (EBD) are often observed in children. Most of the related research, however, has been performed in developed countries. In countries like Chile, characterization of food disorders during the first years of life is unknown. Objective: The goal of the current study is to characterize the EBD of Chilean children during the first 2 years of life. Methods: We studied 67 children (mean age = 5.4 months; range = 4-24 months). The study group (SG; according to criteria in the 4th ed. of the Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders) consisted of 34 children with EBD whose mothers spontaneously consulted for difficulties for feeding and the control group (CG) included 33 healthy children. A structured recall was applied to their mothers. Results: EBD onset was observed more frequently during the first semester of life and was associated with new foods. The children in the SG presented with lower birth weight (SG: 3,000 +/- 500 g; CG: 3,400 +/- 500 g, p < .001), weigh/length (-0.4 +/- 1.0 vs. 0.8 +/- 1.1; p = .0001), and length/age z scores (-0.7 +/-1.0 vs. -0.1 +/- 0.8; p = .007) than children in the CG. Early weaning before 4 months of age was more frequently found in the SG (44.1 % vs. 12.1 %; p =.04). The logistic regression showed as variables those associated with EBD, that is, birth weight and maternal history of EDB during her infancy (chi(2) p = .0003). Mothers of children in the SG felt that their maternal role was more difficul and less satisfactory than mothers of children in the CG (chi(2), p = .03). Discussion: EBDs in Chilean infants are observed during the first months of life and are associated with a lower birth weight, shortened exclusive breast-feeding, maternal history of EBD during their infancy, and lower physical growth. Mothers of children with EBD frequently feel that their maternal role is difficult and unsatisfactory. (C) 2004 by Wiley Periodicals, Inc.