10th Congress of Paediatrics for Practice
At the Ostrava jubilee 10. At the Congress of Pediatrics for Practice, I had the opportunity to present The Eating School and its mission to experts. My presentation on the topic: “Non-invasive diagnostic techniques and therapeutic options for children with eating disorders at an early age” was aimed at presenting to pediatricians what children can face.
The main goal of my lecture was to emphasize that difficulties with food intake in children in most cases do not stem from a single reason, but are the result of a set of different factors. These factors can include both physical and psychological aspects, including sensory processing, motor skills, emotional relationship with food, and many others. This knowledge is essential for effective diagnosis and selection of appropriate intervention.
In my post, I tried to emphasize the role of the pediatrician – a general practitioner – as the first point of contact for parents who are dealing with difficulties with food or are already looking for help. In addition, pediatricians play a key role in identifying incipient problems, are responsible for monitoring the overall development of the child and, if necessary, also refer the child to a specialist for further care. Therefore, it is essential that they are equipped with the latest knowledge and procedures that will enable them to recognize and solve these difficulties more effectively.
During the presentation, I presented the basic diagnostic areas that allow pediatricians to better understand the nature of children’s problems with food, as well as the options for intervention divided according to priorities. One of the surprising moments was the fact that, in terms of importance, building new skills is given the least emphasis, or rather, we approach it only at the end. The priority is to ensure a high-quality and balanced diet within the scope of the child’s current skills and capabilities. Furthermore, the exclusion of health complications and the setting of regime measures from the perspective of anxiety and strategies at the family table. Only then do you start learning new skills.
The Eating School’s participation in the conference was important for me not only as an opportunity to share my knowledge and experience with colleagues, but also to explain to pediatricians their irreplaceable role in the prevention and early diagnosis of eating disorders in children. I believe that by joint efforts we can significantly contribute to better care for these children, provide their families with functional and high-quality information and thus help them to better health and quality of life.
