Abstract

Background: The aim of this study is to assess the prevalence of picky eating among preschoolers and to address the clinical link between eating behavior and growth, physical activity, development, and health status.

Methods: In this study, a structured questionnaire was used to perform a cross-sectional descriptive study of 800 parents of preschoolers aged 2–4 years in Kurdistan/Iraq. Data collected included: demographics, food preferences, eating behavior, body weight, BMI, height, development, physical activity, and records of medical illness. Data from children defined as picky or non-picky eaters responses were analyzed and compared using standard statistical tests according to questionnaire records obtained from participating parents.

Results: The mean age of the children was 2.85 years; among eight hundreds participants, 620 (77%) were picky eaters. Compared with non-picky eaters 180 (23%), z-score of weight-for-age, height-for-age, and body mass index (BMI)-forage in picky eaters was 0.90, 0.71, and 0.42 SD lower, respectively. There were significant variations of rates in the weight-for-age, height-for-age, and BMI-for-age percentiles