What is anorexia?
Anorexia is the child's rejection of the basic foods that he needs for adequate growth and development for various reasons. It is one of the most common problems in pediatric outpatient clinics. Anorexia is seen at rates as high as 25% in children with normal development and up to 80% in children with developmental delay. Especially families with children between the ages of 6 months and 3 years consult a doctor due to lack of appetite. Medicana Bursa Hospital Child Health and Diseases Specialist Dr. Bünyamin Teymuroğlu gave information about the subject.
Children who consume less food begin to gain less weight than their peers after a while. This situation increases parents' anxiety and anxiety. With this concern, the family unintentionally puts pressure on the child, and as a result, the child's eating problems increase and enters a vicious circle.
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What are the conditions that cause loss of appetite?
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The nature of the child: In cases such as prematurity, low birth weight, the child is forced to eat without showing signs of hunger due to the concerns of the mother, father or even the doctor
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Nutrition transitions: Forced during breast milk-bottle-spoon or watery-puree-solid transitions
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Mechanical feeding: Feeding at certain intervals without any signs of hunger, without involving emotions
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Organic causes: Trying to force-feed a child who has decreased appetite and reluctance to eat during an illness
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Chronic diseases: Diseases such as gastroesophageal reflux, food allergies, lactose intolerance, celiac disease.
Failure to manage the above conditions well has a negative impact on the development of eating behavior in children and causes nutritional problems.
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How to evaluate anorexia Is it done?
A detailed anamnesis and physical examination are essential. With the anamnesis, who, how, how much, how often the baby was fed, what was given, whether there is an underlying disease and the family environment are questioned. Organic causes that cause chronic disease symptoms and nutritional problems are investigated through physical examination. It breaks. Basic laboratory tests should be evaluated in children with poor appetite. Vitamins and minerals that are found to be deficient should be replaced. The child's growth chart and nutrition list from birth should also be evaluated.
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How can children with poor appetite be classified?
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Picky eaters: Some babies are defined as picky babies by their families. While selectivity is 20% in the first year, it increases to 50% around the age of two. These children show fear and rejection behaviors of consuming new foods.
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Blender babies: These are babies who have chewing and swallowing problems. These are children who consume all foods in puree form from the beginning of the transition to supplementary food and cannot swallow rough, granular and solid foods.
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Slow chewers: Those who take more than 1 hour to eat, and who eat food from the first few bites. These are babies who hold their food in their mouth.
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Those who get full quickly: These are children who refuse to consume their food after a few bites.
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What should be done in case of loss of appetite in children? ?
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First, determine your responsibilities.
The family decides what the food is, when and where to eat it, and the child decides how much to consume. should give. Excessively large portions should be avoided and more should not be forced.
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Choose the appropriate food for the child.
The food to be served should be chosen taking into account the child's priorities. . It should be appropriate for the child's age and motor development, and he should be encouraged to consume foods that he will enjoy. It should be started with small amounts and the child should not be forced to eat the food he does not like. After refusing, try again after a while.
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Avoid distracting the child.
During the meal, distractions such as television, tablets and toys should be avoided. It is very important that the child is at the same table and high chair with family members. Eating with the family makes the child feel like a member of the family and also learns by imitation.
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Make him hungry.
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Make him feel hungry.
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Make him feel hungry. p>
There should be 3-4 hours between meals and snacks should not be allowed in between. Snacks can be given, but sweet foods such as candy and chocolate should not be given, and consumption of fruit juice and milk should be restricted.
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Extending the duration of meals
Meal duration should not be longer than 45 minutes. Staying at the table for a long time causes the child to get bored.
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Keep your emotions and behaviors under control
Meal times are only when food is taken orally. It is not a period of time. During this time, the child also learns to shape successive activities related to nutrition, to control his body, and to develop healthy relationships during feeding. Therefore, mealtime should be fun. Being angry and unhappy affects the child negatively. There should be no pressure, excessive persuasion, begging, bribery, threats, punishment, and food should not be used as a reward.
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Be consistent with the child
The attitude of family members who take care of the child towards the child should be consistent. The rules should be clear and everyone should act in accordance with these rules.
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Let it get dirty
In the first 2 years of age, children eat slowly and make messes. and are easily distracted. Allowing these movements, which are a normal part of development, helps babies' hand and mouth movements mature. Constantly cleaning the child's mouth and hands will prevent the baby from enjoying eating.
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Create a feeding style according to the child's structure
Those who eat small amounts and Frequent meals should be created for children who get full quickly, and the content of the meal should be enriched if necessary. Children who have difficulty feeding lumpy and solid foods should be transitioned from pureed to solid food with a specific plan. Children who choose to eat a lot and refuse to consume new foods should not be forced too much and should be tried again at different times.
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