Picky eating and its family-related factors among children during COVID-19 outbreak / 中国学校卫生

ABSTRACT

Objective@#To investigate the current status of picky eating among children and family-related factors, to provide scientific basis for diet intervention for children.@*Methods@#A total of 1 829 children were selected from 5 kindergartens in Shenzhen and investigated by electronic questionnaire survey from March 18 th-20 th in 2020.The data was analyzed by SPSS 21.0.@*Results@#The reported rate of picky eating behavior among children was 43.8%. Parents-picky eating behavior, children s preference to eating snacks, parental worries on children s appetite, parents attitude toward the food disliked by children were positively correlated to children s picky eating behaviors[OR(95%CI)=3.86(2.74-5.43), 1.44(1.15-1.80), 3.21(2.45-4.22), 2.21(1.65-2.95)]; however, eating various food under the instruction of their parents was negatively correlated to children s behaviors[OR(95%CI)=0.38(0.29-0.49)](P<0.05).@*Conclusion@#The reported rate of picky eating behaviors of children on holiday is lower than usual, but parents should to help them develop good dietary habits, prevent picky eating among children.