Interventions for Increasing Acceptance of New Foods Among Children and Adults with Developmental Disorders: A Systematic Review.

Most evidence came from single-person or small-group studies, so results may reflect how those particular people responded rather than a typical pattern. Interventions were usually packages of several strategies, so the review could not separate which component caused any change. The review included very few randomized or controlled studies, so population-level effectiveness is unclear. Many studies did not report intervention duration, intensity, or setting clearly, and many had no follow-up, so lasting effects are uncertain. The risk-of-bias tool was built for single-case designs, and missing reporting may mean bias was underestimated. Publication bias is likely because successful single-case studies are more often published, and unsuccessful cases may not be reported. The review excluded people with eating disorders, tube dependence, failure to thrive, dementia, diabetes, or pregnancy, so it does not address those patients.

Do not read the many positive case reports as proof that these feeding programmes work for all children and adults with developmental disorders. Most studies gave several strategies at once, used highly selected people who needed clinical help, and often did not check whether gains lasted.