What are the harms of feeding someone by hand?

The harms of feeding children by hand include increased risk of obesity, poor coordination, and susceptibility to illness. The specific analysis is as follows:

1. Increased risk of obesity

Feeding by hand usually means parents or elders directly feed the child during meals. If children do not eat independently, they may be unable to control portion sizes, which could lead to overeating and thus increase the risk of obesity.

2. Poor coordination

Using chopsticks or spoons during self-feeding helps exercise the cerebellum and improves motor coordination. Frequent hand-feeding may deprive children of this opportunity, potentially leading to poor coordination.

3. Susceptibility to illness

During hand-feeding, parents may easily overfeed the child, placing excessive burden on the gastrointestinal system and increasing the risk of digestive disorders. Therefore, in daily life, if a child is capable of eating independently, caregivers should avoid feeding them by hand.

It is recommended to encourage children's independence through appropriate training, involve them in outdoor activities to enhance social skills and psychological resilience. Additionally, self-feeding also helps develop oral muscles.