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Gastroenterology69 papers

Feeding disorder of infancy OR early childhood

Last edited: 4/16/2026

Overview

Feeding disorders in infancy and early childhood encompass dysfunctional eating behaviors that impair nutritional intake, growth, or psychosocial functioning. Avoidant/Restrictive Food Intake Disorder (ARFID) and Pediatric Feeding Disorder (PFD) are frameworks used to describe these conditions, sharing similarities but differing in origins and specific diagnostic criteria 1.

Diagnosis

  • Key Criteria: Significant eating disturbances leading to failure to meet nutritional needs, significant weight loss, nutritional deficiencies, or dependence on enteral feeding 1.
  • Medical Evaluation: Assess for underlying medical conditions, including functional gastrointestinal diseases and anxiety 1.
  • Behavioral Assessment: Evaluate feeding behaviors, mealtime interactions, and psychological factors 1.
  • Multidisciplinary Input: Collaboration among medical, nutritional, and behavioral specialists is crucial for comprehensive evaluation 1.

    • Management

  • First-Line Treatments:
    • - Multidisciplinary Care: Address medical, nutritional, and behavioral aspects simultaneously 1. - Behavioral Therapy: Various approaches exist; choice depends on individual needs, including type, location, and intensity of therapy 1.
  • Adjunctive Treatments:
    • - Pharmacologic Interventions: Consider appetite stimulants when appropriate, though specific drug classes and doses are not detailed 1.

    Special Populations

  • Pediatric Considerations: Management heavily relies on multidisciplinary teams addressing developmental, nutritional, and behavioral aspects 1.

    • Key Recommendations

  • Implement multidisciplinary care involving medical, nutritional, and behavioral specialists to address all facets of feeding disorders 1 (Evidence: Strong).
  • Evaluate and manage potential underlying medical conditions, including functional gastrointestinal disorders and anxiety, alongside feeding issues 1 (Evidence: Strong).
  • Utilize behavioral therapy approaches tailored to individual needs, recognizing the lack of a single empirically validated method 1 (Evidence: Moderate).

    • References

    1 Noel RJ. Avoidant restrictive food intake disorder and pediatric feeding disorder: the pediatric gastroenterology perspective. Current opinion in pediatrics 2023. link

    Original source

    1. [1]
      Avoidant restrictive food intake disorder and pediatric feeding disorder: the pediatric gastroenterology perspective. — Noel RJ Current opinion in pediatrics (2023)
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