Fussy eating in kids is due to genetic, study says
Tue 24 Sep 2024Fussy eating in kids? Blame genetic attributes! A new study from UCL, King’s College London, and the University of Leeds has found that being a picky eater is mainly a genetic trait, sticking around from toddler-hood through early teens. Published in the Journal of Child Psychology & Psychiatry, the research relied on surveys from parents of identical and non-identical twins across England and Wales, tracking their eating habits from 16 months to 13 years.
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Turns out, food fussiness is pretty stable, peaking around age seven before doing a slight nosedive. Genetics were responsible for about 60% of the variations in picky eating at 16 months, shooting up to 74% by age 13. While factors like family meal traditions played a role when kids were little, individual experiences, such as different friends or school lunches, became more influential as they grew up.
What exactly is food fussiness? It’s the knack for sticking to a limited menu, often because of picky preferences for textures or flavours. Dr. Zeynep Nas, the lead researcher, pointed out that many parents fret over their little food critics and often take the blame for their fussiness. The study’s findings could ease some of that guilt by showing that picky eating is more about genes than parenting skills.
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Senior author Professor Clare Llewellyn added that while genetics are a big player, the environment has a role, too. So, encouraging kids to munch on a rainbow of fruits and veggies early on could pay off. The study included 2,400 twin sets and revealed that identical twins were more alike in their food fussiness than non-identical twins.
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Despite the genetic ties, Dr. Alison Fildes reminded parents they can still encourage a varied diet as kids grow up, even if their friends start calling the shots. The researchers also want to explore non-western food cultures next, as they might have their own unique quirks when it comes to fussy eating.