Behavioral Interventions and Anticipatory Guidance

Attention to the nutritional needs of children with cystic fibrosis (CF) starting in infancy is important to promoting optimal growth and improving quality of life. In addition to nutritional recommendations for increased energy intake, consensus statements developed by the Cystic Fibrosis Foundation (CFF) have highlighted the potential role of behavioral assessment and intervention in helping children reach benchmarks for normal growth. Several disease-related factors and normative aspects of child development, including challenging child behaviors encountered during mealtimes, contribute to suboptimal adherence to nutritional recommendations.