Neofobia y otros trastornos restrictivos alimentarios en la infancia y consumo de frutas y verdurasrevisión

Abstract

Objective: The aim of this review is to identify the characteristics of children that present avoidant/restrictive feeding problems in infancy focusing specially on those that present food neophobia as well as its relationship with the intake of fruits and vegetables. Methods: An extensive search of scientific publications using the keywords “food neophobia”, “children”, “picky eating”, “fussy eating”, “feeding problems” and “food preferences” in specialised electronic databases has been carried out, finally selecting 61 articles for the review. Results: Food neophobia has an impact and direct repercussion on consumption of different foods, particularly in the intake of fruits and vegetables, confirming that neophobic children have less healthy diets than their neophilic peers. The review also shows that both food neophobia and picky/fussy eating are not clearly differentiated eating problems, and that the nutritional consequences are virtually identical. Conclusions: Food neophobia is a feeding problem that implies a low intake of fruits and vegetables in infancy and therefore, it should be taken into account from the standpoint of the community nutrition. It should also be noted that the role of parents is fundamental in the maintenance or reduction of neophobia.