WHEREAS, while there is no universally accepted definition, the Journal of Pediatric Gastroenterology and Nutrition has defined pediatric feeding disorder (PFD) as impaired oral intake that is not age-appropriate and is associated with medical, nutritional, feeding skill, and/or psychosocial dysfunction; and
WHEREAS, the American Academy of Pediatrics and the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention identifies nutrition during the first 1,000 days of life as a critical factor to early brain growth, development of the central nervous system, and lifelong mental health; and
WHEREAS, according to a national prevalence study published in the Journal of Pediatrics, conservative evaluations estimate that more than 1 in 37 children under the age of 5, and more than 1 in 5 children with a chronic disease experience severe PFD in the United States annually; and
WHEREAS, every bite of food for children with PFD can be painful, scary, or simply impossible to swallow, potentially impeding nutrition, development, growth, and overall well-being; and
WHEREAS, families navigating PFD often feel isolated and overwhelmed, struggling to overcome the medical, emotional, financial, educational, and social issues related to PFD; and
WHEREAS, the State of North Carolina encourages raising awareness for pediatric feeding disorder so that children currently living with PFD can thrive and so that accelerated identification, further research, and collaborative care can be made available to support future children and families;
NOW, THEREFORE, I, ROY COOPER, Governor of the State of North Carolina, do hereby proclaim May, 2022, as “PEDIATRIC FEEDING DISORDER AWARENESS MONTH” in North Carolina, and commend its observance to all citizens.