Evidence map›Paper›PMID 40059897›Full record

ArticleWorld journal of clinical pediatrics2025

Diet fortification for mild and moderate picky eating in typically developed children: Opinion review of Middle East consensus.

Mohammed Al-Beltagi, Elie Choueiry, Najat Alahmadi, Zeinab Demerdash, Wafaa Helmi Ayesh, Khoula Al-Said, Fatima Al-Haddad, Sanaa Y Shaaban, Eslam Tawfik

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Article in World journal of clinical pediatrics, 2025. The graph could read no effect estimate from its abstract, so it casts no vote on the map. Cited by 2 papers.

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0cells of the map it votes in
2citing papers in PubMed
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1 · What the graph read from it

What it found

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2 · The registry

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3 · Its place in the literature

Who cites it

2 citing papers in PubMed.

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4 · The record

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5 · Who and what money

Authors and funding

9 authors.

Mohammed Al-BeltagiDepartment of Pediatric, Faculty of Medicine, Tanta University, Tanta ‎ 31511‎, Egypt.
Elie ChoueiryPaediatric Intensive and Critical Care Unit, Hospital Hôtel Dieu de France, Beirut 166830, Beyrouth, Lebanon.
Najat AlahmadiDepartment of Pediatric Gastroenterology, Hepatology and Nutrition, Madina Maternity and Children Hospital, King Salman Medical City, Almadina Almonawarh 41412, Almadina Almonawarh, Saudi Arabia.
Zeinab DemerdashDepartment of Gastroenterology, Hepatology and Nutrition, Al Amiri Hospital, Kuwait City 999044, Kuwait.
Wafaa Helmi AyeshDepartment of Nutrition, Altadawi Speciality Hospital, Dubai 1853, Dubayy, United Arab Emirates.
Khoula Al-SaidDepartment of Paediatric Gastroenterology, Royal Hospital, Muscat 1331, Muscat, Oman.
Fatima Al-HaddadDepartment of Dietetic, Salmaniya Medical Complex, Government Hospitals, Al Salmaniya 12, Manama, Bahrain.
Sanaa Y ShaabanDepartment of Pediatrics, Faculty of Medicine, Ain Shams University, Cairo 11591, Egypt.
Eslam TawfikDepartment of Paediatric, Faculty of Medicine, Suez University, Suez 41522, Egypt.

Funding

No grant is acknowledged in the PubMed record.

6 · The paper itself

Abstract

backgroundPicky eating is a commonly observed behavior among children globally, negatively impacting their physical and mental growth. Although common characteristics distinguish peaky eaters, including food selectivity, food neophobia, and food avoidance, there is no clear definition to assess this behavior. Due to the unavailability of data regarding picky eating, it wasn't easy to estimate its prevalence.

aimTo develop a regional protocol to help healthcare professionals identify and manage mild and moderate picky eating cases.

methodsA virtual roundtable discussion was held in April 2021 to gather the opinions of seven pediatricians and two pediatric dietitians from eight Middle Eastern countries who had great experience in the management of picky eating. The discussion covered different topics, including clearly defining mild and moderate picky eating, identifying the role of diet fortification in these cases, and the possibility of developing a systematic approach to diet fortification.

resultsThe panel identified picky eating as consuming an inadequate amount and variety of foods by rejecting familiar and unfamiliar food. Most of the time, moderate picky eating cases had micronutrient deficiencies with over- or undernutrition; the mild cases only showed inadequate food consumption and/or poor diet quality. Paying attention to the organic red flags like growth faltering and development delay and behavioral red flags, including food fixation and anticipatory gagging, will help healthcare professionals evaluate the picky eaters and the caregivers to care for their children. Although dietary supplementation and commercial food fortification play an important role in picky eating, they were no benefit in the Middle East.

conclusionThe panel agreed that food fortification through a food-first approach and oral nutritional supplements would be the best for Middle Eastern children. These recommendations would facilitate identifying and managing picky-eating children in the Middle East.

Indexed as

ChildrenDiet fortificationMiddle EastPicky eatingProtocolRoundtable discussion

Identifiers

PMID40059897
PMCPMC11686584

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