Time Out for Desperate Moms
Luxurious weekend retreat with PediaSure Complete^® for 25 moms with picky eaters

18 July 2008, Kuala Lumpur

 

KUALA LUMPUR, JULY 18, 2008 - It's tough caring for picky eating kids who resolutely refuse to eat normally and, instead, kick up a big fuss and reject what you painstakingly put on the table. As many concerned moms will attest, these childish quirks can drive you to the brink of desperation.

Knowing the challenges all too well, PediaSure Complete^®, the world's leading child nutrition supplement from Abbott Nutrition, will be whisking 25 stressed-out moms (and their families) this weekend to an exclusive retreat at Cyberview Lodge Resort and Spa in Cyberjaya.

The retreat promises to be a wonderful time of much-deserved rest & relaxation. Usually more than a handful, the kids will be taken out of their moms' hands and entertained with hours of fun games, storytime and drawing at the Abbott Kidzone^®.

In the meantime, moms and dads will be able to have precious personal time. Pampering awaits at Sembunyi Spa, along with a special cooking class by children's food specialist Rohani Jelani, and a life coaching session with Puan Sri Tessie Lim.

In addition, the parents will have an extraordinary opportunity to get some first-hand expert advice on their children's picky eating habits from two world-class professionals, Professor Dr Mauro Fisberg and Dr Pedro A Alarcon.

Prof Fisberg, a paediatrician & nutrologist, is Head of the Paediatrics Department at the Federal University of São Paulo (UNIFESP). He has published six books and over 400 scientific papers on children's eating disorders. Dr Alarcon, a paediatric gastroenterologist, is Abbott Nutrition's International Medical Director.

The duo are visiting Malaysia, at the invitation of PediaSure Complete^®, to update local paediatricians and nutritionists, the media as well as parents on recent developments in the area of picky eating and other feeding problems. Their speaking tour is part of the brand's continuing efforts to help provide knowledge, insights and information on the problem of picky eating and other feeding difficulties in children.

Thanks to this effort, which has continued over the last 10 years, a good number of Malaysian moms today are able to manage their children's nutrition magnificently; cool, calm and totally in control, they are no longer fazed by their kids' picky eating as they confidently rely on the nutritional solutions as well as highly effective feeding tips provided by PediaSure Complete^®.

At the briefing held today for the media, Prof Fisberg spoke on 'Picky Eating: What to Do with a Child with Poor Appetite'. He noted that, based on a survey by Abbott Nutrition, mothers in South East Asian countries list weight loss, illness and lack of energy as their top concerns relating to their children's poor appetites or fussy eating habits.

Stating that 'picky eating' is indeed becoming more common among toddlers and preschool children, he stressed that the condition can bring adverse long-term effects if left unchecked. "Picky eating is becoming a major concern because it can contribute to under-nutrition which can impair children's growth and development, which includes their social and academic performance as well," he said.

He added that, apart from slower gains in weight and height, picky eating children tend to also have weak constitutions and fall ill more often than other kids. "This is because they might lack the complete and balanced nutrition that is crucial for keeping young immune systems in good working order."

Prof Fisberg said it is important for parents to know if and why their children are 'picky eaters', and find out whether their growth and development are being compromised. He also noted that a majority of picky eaters take after examples set by their parents at home, as many studies have indicated that rejection of food is a learned behavior in almost all cases.

He also shared some practical recommendations for helping parents overcome their children's picky eating habits. "It all starts with recognising that the child has a right to preferences and aversions. Forcing a child to eat what he doesn't like isn't going to make matters any better. Make a list of his/her preferences and, every week, add two new types of foods."

Dr Alarcon engaged the media with his talk on 'Managing Eating Disorders with Paediatric Oral Supplementation'. He cited a study among Asian children on the effects of complementing nutritional counselling with paediatric oral supplements. Evidently, the combination contributed to significant improvement in the children's weight and height in just three months.

"Paediatric oral supplementation should be considered as part of a comprehensive strategy when dealing with picky eating to prevent children from becoming under-nourished," he advised. Paediatric oral supplements, like PediaSure Complete^®, have been used for many years to ensure complete and balanced nutritional intake in children with poor appetites".

 

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