Coaxing, urging, or forcing children to eat can lead to which of the following?

Coaxing, urging, or forcing children to eat can lead to serious eating disorders for several reasons. When children are pressured to eat, they may develop a negative relationship with food. Instead of listening to their own hunger cues and learning to enjoy meals, they might associate eating with stress or anxiety. This can cause them to either overeat in order to cope with the stress of being forced or become fearful of food altogether, leading to restrictive eating patterns.

Additionally, forcing a child to eat can undermine their autonomy and self-regulation skills regarding food intake, setting the stage for potential problems such as anorexia or bulimia later in life. Children who feel that their bodies or preferences are not respected may struggle with their body image and develop disordered eating behaviors as they grow older. Thus, it's essential for caregivers to foster a positive environment around food that allows children to explore their own preferences and develop a healthy relationship with eating.