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

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'