Prevalence of picky eating behaviour in Chinese school-age children and associations with anthropometric parameters and intelligence quotient. A cross-sectional study. (1st August 2015)

• Record Type: Journal Article
• Authors: Xue, Yong; Lee, Eva; Ning, Ke; Zheng, Yingdong; Ma, Defu; Gao, Hongchong; Yang, Baoru; Bai, Ying; Wang, Peiyu; Zhang, Yumei
• Is Part Of: Appetite. Volume 91(2015)
• Page Start: 248
• Page End: 255
• Publication Date: 2015-08-01
• Subjects: α-TE α-tocopherol equivalent -- BAZ body weight index for age Z-scores -- BMI body weight index -- CI confidence interval -- EDTA ethylene diamine tetraacetic acid -- HAZ height for age Z-scores -- Hb haemoglobin -- IQ intelligence quotient -- MCV mean corpuscular volume -- NE niacin equivalent -- SD standard deviation -- SE standard error -- SEM standard error of the mean -- PIQ performance intelligence quotient -- RBC red blood count -- RE retinol equivalent -- VIQ verbal intelligence quotient -- WAZ weight for age Z-scores -- WISC-RC The Chinese version of Wechsler Intelligence Scale for Children; Picky eating -- Chinese -- Dietary intake -- Growth and development -- Intelligence; Food habits -- Periodicals; Appetite -- Periodicals; Appetite disorders -- Periodicals; Electronic journals; 306.4613
• DOI: 10.1016/j.appet.2015.04.065
• Languages: English
• ISSNs: 0195-6663

Abstract

Highlights: The influence of picky eating on the growth of children is still a topic of debate. Picky eating behaviour is prevalent in Chinese school-age children. Picky eating behaviour has negative associations with growth of children. Picky eaters have a lower intake of dietary nutrients. Picky eaters have lower levels of magnesium, iron, and copper in the blood. Abstract: Previous studies have demonstrated the importance of eating behaviour regarding dietary variety and nutrient intake of children. However, the association between picky eating and growth of children is still a topic of debate. This study sought to estimate the prevalence of picky eating and to identify possible associations with the growth of school-age children in China. In this survey, 793 healthy children aged 7–12 years were recruited from nine cities and rural areas in China using a multi-stage cluster sampling method. Data collected included socio-demographic information and parents' perceptions of picky eating using a structured questionnaire, nutrient intake using 24-hour dietary recall, weight and height using body measurements, and intelligence using the Wechsler Intelligence Scale for Children. Blood samples were collected and analysed for minerals. The prevalence of picky eating reported by parents was 59.3% in children. Compared with non-picky eaters, picky eaters had a lower dietary intake of energy, protein, carbohydrates, most vitamins and minerals, and lower levels of magnesium, iron, and copper in the blood (p < 0.05), and also had a 0.184 z-score lower in height for age (95% CI: −0.332, 0.036; p = 0.015), a 0.385 z-score lower in weight for age (95% CI: −0.533, −0.237; p < 0.001), a 0.383 z-score lower in BMI for age (95% CI: −0.563, −0.203; p < 0.001), and scored 2.726 points higher on the intelligence test (95% CI: 0.809, 4.643; p = 0.006) when adjusted for children's birth weight and food allergy, mothers' education, and family income. Picky eating behaviour towards meat, eggs and vegetables showed negative associations with growth. Picky eating behaviour is prevalent in school-age children in China and may have a negative effect on growth.