Elvis KRAJA, Aysel VEHAPOGLU, Selim GOKCE
Experimental and Applied Medical Science - 2026;7(1):41-55
Purpose: Eating problems and anorexia are frequent conditions in childhood. However, a small proportion of children are diagnosed with feeding disorders. It is very important for children with eating disorders to be diagnosed early and to begin treatment. This study aimed to evaluate the clinical and demographic characteristics of patients being followed with feeding disorders. Methods: This study was carried out among one hundred children diagnosed with feeding disorders under 18 years old who attended the Gastroenterology Outpatient Clinic at Bezmialem University Hospital between January 2013 and December 2014. Clinical and demographic characteristics of patients were recorded in the prepared research form by the file scanning method. Childhood eating disorders were classified using appropriate criteria, and the Chatoor classification was used. Results: One hundred cases were described as 64 (%64) sensory food aversions, 4 (%4) infantile anorexia, 4 (%4) posttraumatic feeding disorders, 17 (%17) comorbid feeding disorders, and 11 (%11) complex feeding disorders. Height z scores were -0.81+/-1.75, weight z scores were -0.92+/-1.55, and the average age of cases was 36.57+/-32.21 months (min: 3, max: 184, median: 27). Conclusion: This study concluded that eating disorders should be evaluated and managed by a multidisciplinary team including a clinician, dietician, psychologist/psychiatrist, physiotherapist, and/or speech therapist.
