Prevalentie van eetproblemen bij jonge kinderen: Systematisch literatuuroverzicht

This manuscript provides an overview of the existing literature on the prevalence of eating problems and eating disorders of children from 0 to 6 years old. Eating problems are considered from a biopsycho-social view, given that biological, psychological and social factors are involved in the development of eating problems and eating disorders. A systematic research was conducted using PubMed, Medline and PsycINFO. All studies were screened according to fixed in- and exclusion criteria. The inclusion criteria included feeding and eating problems, general population, epidemiological research or review of epidemiological research, study population from 0 to 6 years old, year of publication (between 1971 and 2011) and publication in English or Dutch. The exclusion criteria included feeding and eating problems considered from an organic pathogenesis. Thus, 21 papers were covered in this review. The point prevalence data of feeding and eating problems vary greatly (between 1.4% and 37%). Only one study provides data for eating disorders among the general population: a prevalence of 2.8% according to the ICD-10 criteria (tenth edition of the "International Statistical Classification of Diseases and Related Health Problems") and of 2.4% according to the DC:0-3R criteria ("Zero to Three's Diagnostic Classification of Mental Health and Developmental Disorders of Infancy and Early Childhood"). The definition of the studies and the used methodologies vary widely. Moreover, in many studies these two aspects are too concisely described, which might explain the varying prevalence rates. Thus, general conclusions cannot be drawn. Hence, it is recommended that academics reach a consensus on the definition and the operationalisation of eating problems as well as the methods used to assess them.