Feeding Matters, in partnership with Children’s Healthcare of Atlanta, has launched the Center for Feeding Ethics. This national initiative is focused on developing ethical standards and exploring ethical challenges related to pediatric feeding disorders, including pediatric feeding disorder (PFD) and avoidant restrictive food intake disorder (ARFID).
The creation of the Center responds to calls from within the healthcare field to recognize historical harms and incorporate patient and family experiences into research, training, and care. Recent national efforts have highlighted the importance of understanding trauma histories and integrating these insights into best practices.
Children’s Healthcare of Atlanta operates one of the few programs in the United States offering evidence-based treatment for children ages 8 months to 21 years with PFD or ARFID. Feeding Matters is recognized as a leader in advocating for system-wide changes in feeding disorder care. Together, these organizations aim to combine clinical expertise with lived experience to improve support for affected children and families.
“Healthcare is evolving to recognize that how we treat matters just as much as what we treat,” said William Sharp, Ph.D., director of Children’s Multidisciplinary Feeding Program. “As feeding disorder research expands, ethical responsibility must expand with it. The Center for Feeding Ethics exists to help children receive care that is safe, effective and compassionate.”
Feeding disorders are relatively common among children. Up to 1 in 23 children under age five are diagnosed with PFD, while up to 1 in 6 people are affected by ARFID. This means at least one child per classroom may be living with a feeding disorder.
Despite this prevalence, there is no specialized or standardized education pathway for providers treating PFD or ARFID. Many clinicians report feeling unprepared when managing these cases. In addition, families seeking specialized treatment often face wait times exceeding a year. There are currently no unified ethical guidelines across disciplines for assessing or treating PFD and ARFID.
The Center was introduced at the International Pediatric Feeding Disorder Conference last week. It aims to address several objectives: investigating ethical challenges in feeding care; building consensus across medical disciplines; evaluating current care pathways; developing ethical treatment guidelines; elevating patient and family voices; and promoting inclusive language.
“The science is evolving, and so must our standards,” said Jaclyn Pederson, CEO of Feeding Matters. “Acknowledging the past and working together allows us to build a more ethical future for children and families.”
Throughout 2026, the Center will consult clinicians and individuals with lived experience as it develops foundational ethical principles and prepares publications on its findings. Additional working groups and educational materials are planned.
With trauma-informed models gaining ground in pediatric healthcare, organizers believe the new Center will play an important role in advancing patient- and family-centered approaches for those affected by feeding disorders.