Picky eating merupakan perilaku makan selektif yang menjadi perhatian global karena hubungannya dengan malnutrisi dan stunting, terutama di negara berkembang seperti Indonesia. Penelitian ini bertujuan untuk mengidentifikasi hubungan antara picky eating dan stunting pada anak usia prasekolah di Kecamatan Lau, Kabupaten Maros. Penelitian menggunakan desain kohort retrospektif dengan total sampling sebanyak 166 anak usia 3-5 tahun. Perilaku makan diukur menggunakan kuesioner Child Eating Behavior Questionaire (CEBQ) dan status gizi dinilai berdasarkan standar WHO menggunakan microtoise. Data dianalisis dengan uji chi-square dan odds ratio (OR) dengan CI 95%. Anak dengan picky eating memiliki risiko stunting 43 kali lipat lebih tinggi (OR = 43; CI 95%). Sebanyak 65,06% anak menunjukkan perilaku picky eating, dan 47,59% mengalami stunting. Faktor lain yang memengaruhi adalah berat badan lahir rendah dan pendapatan orang tua di bawah UMR. Picky eating berhubungan signifikan dengan kejadian stunting pada anak prasekolah. Hasil ini memfokuskan pentingnya edukasi orang tua tentang pola makan sehat dan perlunya intervensi berbasis komunitas untuk mengurangi angka stunting.   Picky eating is a selective eating behavior that has become a global concern due to its association with malnutrition and stunting, especially in developing countries such as Indonesia. This study aims to identify the association between picky eating and stunting in preschool children in Lau District, Maros Regency. The study used a retrospective cohort design with a total sampling of 166 children aged 3-5 years. Eating behavior was measured using the Child Eating Behavior Questionnaire (CEBQ) and nutritional status was assessed based on WHO standards using a microtoise. Data were analyzed using the chi-square test and odds ratio (OR) with 95% CI. Children with picky eating have a 43-fold higher risk of stunting (OR = 43; 95% CI). A total of 65.06% of children showed picky eating behavior, and 47.59% experienced stunting. Other influencing factors are low birth weight and parental income below the minimum wage. Picky eating is significantly associated with the incidence of stunting in preschool children. These results focus on the importance of educating parents about healthy eating patterns and the need for community-based interventions to reduce stunting rates.
                        
                        
                        
                        
                            
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