Nutrition and mealtime behaviour in families of growth-retarded children.

A sample of 4-year-olds from a London inner city area whose growth fell below the 10th population centile for height and weight were matched with children whose rate of growth was within normal limits. Neither food intake nor gross environmental variables distinguished the two groups. However, mealtime observations revealed considerably more disorganization and negative attitudes in case group families. Retrospective information obtained by interview indicates that these factors had been operative since early infancy. The findings suggest that in surveys of child nutrition the role of family dysfunction should be considered.