Xue Yong, Zhao Ai, Cai Li, Yang Baoru, Szeto Ignatius M Y, Ma Defu, Zhang Yumei, Wang Peiyu
Department of Nutrition and Food Hygiene, School of Public Health, Peking University Health Science Center, Beijing, China.
Department of Social Medicine and Health Education, School of Public Health, Peking University Health Science Center, Beijing, China.
PLoS One. 2015 Apr 13;10(4):e0123664. doi: 10.1371/journal.pone.0123664. eCollection 2015.
To explore the associations between picky eating behaviour and pre-schoolers' growth and development. Corresponding potential mechanisms, such as nutrient and food subgroup intake, as well as micronutrients in the blood, will be considered.
Picky eating behaviour was present if it was reported by parents. From various areas of China, 937 healthy children of 3-7 years old were recruited using a multi-stage stratified cluster sampling method. Children and their mothers' socio-demographic information and children's anthropometry, intelligence, blood samples, one 24-hour dietary intake record and food frequency questionnaire were collected. Z-scores and intelligence tests were used to evaluate growth and development (cognitive development). Multilevel models were employed to verify the associations between picky eating behaviour and growth and development.
The prevalence of picky eating as reported by parents was 54% in pre-schoolers. Compared with the non-picky eaters, weight for age in picky eaters was 0.14 z-score (95% CI: -0.25, -0.02; p = 0.017) lower while no significant difference was found in intelligence (p > 0.05). Picky eating behaviour lasting over two years was associated with lower weight for age, as was nit-picking meat (the prevalence from parents' perception was 23% in picky eaters) (p < 0.05). Picky eaters consumed fewer cereals, vegetables, and fish (p < 0.05), and had a lower dietary intake of protein, dietary fibre, iron, and zinc (p < 0.05). There were no differences in the concentrations of essential minerals in whole blood (p > 0.05).
Picky eating behaviour is reported by parents in half of the Chinese pre-schoolers, which is negatively associated with growth (weight for age). Lower protein and dietary fibre as well as lower iron and zinc intakes were associated with picky eating as were lower intakes of vegetables, fish and cereals.
探讨挑食行为与学龄前儿童生长发育之间的关联。同时将考虑相应的潜在机制，如营养素和食物亚组的摄入量以及血液中的微量营养素。
若父母报告孩子存在挑食行为，则认定为挑食。采用多阶段分层整群抽样方法，从中国各地招募了937名3至7岁的健康儿童。收集了儿童及其母亲的社会人口学信息、儿童的人体测量数据、智力测试结果、血样、一份24小时饮食摄入记录以及食物频率问卷。采用Z分数和智力测试来评估生长发育情况（认知发育）。运用多水平模型来验证挑食行为与生长发育之间的关联。
父母报告的学龄前儿童挑食患病率为54%。与不挑食的儿童相比，挑食儿童的年龄别体重低0.14个Z分数（95%可信区间：-0.25，-0.02；p = 0.017），而智力方面未发现显著差异（p > 0.05）。持续两年以上的挑食行为与较低的年龄别体重相关，挑剔肉类（父母感知的患病率在挑食儿童中为23%）也与较低的年龄别体重相关（p < 0.05）。挑食儿童摄入的谷类、蔬菜和鱼类较少（p < 0.05），蛋白质、膳食纤维、铁和锌的饮食摄入量较低（p < 0.05）。全血中必需矿物质的浓度没有差异（p > 0.05）。
在中国，一半的学龄前儿童被父母报告存在挑食行为，这与生长（年龄别体重）呈负相关。较低的蛋白质和膳食纤维摄入量以及较低的铁和锌摄入量与挑食有关，蔬菜、鱼类和谷类的摄入量较低也与挑食有关。
