Exploring Food Rejection Dispositions as Potential Risk Factors for Undernutrition in Hospitalized Children Aged 2 to 8

Overview

Undernutrition affects over 30% of hospitalized children in France, with 10% severely malnourished yet only half of the cases are diagnosed. Undernutrition deteriorates children's health during hospital stays, weakening immunity and hindering recovery. Children suffering from acute malnutrition can stay in the hospital 45% longer than non-malnourished patients. One of the primary causes of malnutrition is the reduction in children's food intake. Several researchers have emphasized that the young age of patients is associated with reduced food intake. For example, data on 923 children aged 1 day to 16 years indicates that patients under 8 years old are at a higher risk of undernutrition than older children. The MEDIC project aims to investigate if increased food rejection dispositions contribute to reduced food intake in hospitalized children. Food rejections are typically observed between 2 and 8 years. Some children are more challenging and eat only a few different foods, while others try everything. Around the age of 2, children become more selective about the foods they consume. This is largely due to two common dispositions in young children: food neophobia and food pickiness. Food neophobia is defined as the reluctance to eat or even try foods that appear new, whereas food pickiness is defined as the rejection of a substantial number of familiar foods, including foods previously tasted. Both pickiness and neophobia have been associated with a significant reduction in food consumption (especially of vegetables), a decrease in food variety, and less enjoyment derived from food. A study showed that children aged 2 to 5 were twice as likely to be underweight if they were picky eaters. Studies have shown that the socioeconomic status has a significant impact on food rejection in children. For instance, longitudinal studies reveal a higher proportion of picky eaters in low-income families. Parental education was also found to be inversely associated with children's food rejection levels. The MEDIC project seeks to assess health inequalities by studying the impact of food rejection dispositions on the nutritional status of children in pediatric services. A qualitative study supports the notion that food rejection is heightened during the hospitalization: half of the parents of hospitalized children interviewed reported that foods accepted outside the hospital were rejected in the ward. Parents indicated that their child's food preferences were more limited, and they only alternated between a few foods after entering the hospital. According to the majority of interviewed nurses, children refuse any food other than that provided by parents. The research hypotheses of the MEDIC project focus on understanding the moderating effects of food rejection dispositions and socioeconomic backgrounds on children's food intake during hospitalization. Two hypotheses are formulated: (H1) the pre-hospitalization food rejection levels predict the amount of food consumed during the hospital stay, and (H2) children from disadvantaged socioeconomic backgrounds are more likely to refuse food during their hospital stay than those from more advantaged backgrounds. To test these hypotheses, parents of children aged 2 to 8 will complete questionnaires on food rejection dispositions upon admission, and food consumption (in grams and calories) will be assessed through weighing and photographs of meal trays taken 48 hours (± 24 hours) post-admission. The project aims to shed light on the complexities of childhood malnutrition, addressing social inequalities and contributing valuable insights for interventions and public health policy.