OBJECTIVE: To evaluate over time feeding behavior and emotional-behavioral functioning in a sample of children diagnosed with Infantile Anorexia (IA) and a group of typically developing children; and to investigate the relationship between maternal psychological functioning and the children's feeding patterns and emotional-behavioral functioning. METHOD: Seventy-two children diagnosed with IA and 70 children in the control group were prospectively evaluated through several measures at two, five, and eight years of age. RESULTS: Our findings revealed partial improvement in the nutritional status of the children with IA. However, they continued to show ongoing eating problems and, in addition, anxiety/depression and withdrawal, as well as rule-breaking behaviors and social problems. There were significant correlations between the children's eating problems and their emotional difficulties and their mothers' increased emotional distress and disturbed eating attitudes. DISCUSSION: Our longitudinal study points out that the natural course of untreated IA is characterized by the persistence of difficulties in eating behavior and emotional-behavioral adjustment in both, the children and their mothers.
OBJECTIVE: To evaluate over time feeding behavior and emotional-behavioral functioning in a sample of children diagnosed with Infantile Anorexia (IA) and a group of typically developing children; and to investigate the relationship between maternal psychological functioning and the children's feeding patterns and emotional-behavioral functioning. METHOD: Seventy-two children diagnosed with IA and 70 children in the control group were prospectively evaluated through several measures at two, five, and eight years of age. RESULTS: Our findings revealed partial improvement in the nutritional status of the children with IA. However, they continued to show ongoing eating problems and, in addition, anxiety/depression and withdrawal, as well as rule-breaking behaviors and social problems. There were significant correlations between the children's eating problems and their emotional difficulties and their mothers' increased emotional distress and disturbed eating attitudes. DISCUSSION: Our longitudinal study points out that the natural course of untreated IA is characterized by the persistence of difficulties in eating behavior and emotional-behavioral adjustment in both, the children and their mothers.
Authors: Praveen S Goday; Susanna Y Huh; Alan Silverman; Colleen T Lukens; Pamela Dodrill; Sherri S Cohen; Amy L Delaney; Mary B Feuling; Richard J Noel; Erika Gisel; Amy Kenzer; Daniel B Kessler; Olaf Kraus de Camargo; Joy Browne; James A Phalen Journal: J Pediatr Gastroenterol Nutr Date: 2019-01 Impact factor: 2.839
Authors: Ilaria Chirico; Federica Andrei; Paola Salvatori; Irene Malaguti; Elena Trombini Journal: Int J Environ Res Public Health Date: 2020-11-12 Impact factor: 3.390