RELATIONSHIP BETWEEN PICKY EATER BEHAVIOR AND THE NUTRITIONAL STATUS OF PRESCHOOL CHILDREN AT KB DARUL FUTUH, WALED DISTRICT, CIREBON REGENCY

WHO states 15.7% of preschool worldwide are underweight and 6.6% of preschool are
overweight. Picky eaters are a risk factor for malnutrition because picky eaters tend to

consume less energy, carbohidrates, protein, fat, vitamins and minerals compared to non-
picky eaters. Picky eaters tend to be underweight. Picky eater children are at higher risk

of having underweight, inadequate weight gain and nutritional deficiencies.
Thi research is quantitative study with correlational analysis using a cross sectional
approach. The population of this study were preshool age children in KB Darul Futuh
Cikulak, Waled District, Regency with a total sample of 37 respondents. The instrument
used was a questionnaire. The sampling techniqueuses the total sample technique. Data
analysis used the spearman rank test.
The results of this study showed that the Spearman correlation test between picky eater

behavior and nutritional status obtained an R (Correlation Coefficient) was 0.433 with p-
value of 0.006. the coefficient number is positif, namely 0.443, so that the relationship

between the two variables is in the same direction, thus it can be interpreted that the less
picky eater, the better nutritional status and the more picky eater, the worse nutritional
status.