It’s in the DNA.
Feeling frustrated with your picky eater? It may not be your parenting at fault—genetics could be the main factor behind their eating habits, according to a new study on twins.
The study, published on Sept. 19 in the Journal of Child Psychology & Psychiatry, found that fussy eating is largely influenced by genetics. Researchers noted that this trait remains consistent from toddlerhood through early adolescence.
On average, children’s food fussiness levels stay relatively stable from 16 months to age 13, peaking around age 7 before slightly decreasing, the study revealed. Genetic factors were found to account for 60% of picky eating behavior at 16 months, with that influence increasing to 74% as children grow into their preteen years.
“Fussy eating is common in children and can be a significant source of stress for parents and caregivers, who may blame themselves for this behavior,” explained lead researcher Zeynep Nas, a postdoctoral researcher at University College London (UCL). “Our findings suggest that fussy eating is largely innate, which may relieve some of the guilt parents feel. It’s not necessarily the result of parenting.”
The research also indicated that fussy eating is not just a “phase,” but rather a trait that tends to persist over time.
The study followed 2,400 sets of twins up to age 13. Parents completed regular surveys about their children’s eating habits. Picky eating was defined as only consuming a limited range of foods, often due to aversion to certain textures or tastes, along with a reluctance to try new foods.
To determine the genetic influence, researchers compared the eating habits of fraternal twins (who share 50% of their genes) with identical twins (who share 100%). The identical twins were much more alike in their picky eating patterns than the fraternal twins, indicating a strong genetic component. However, as the children aged, even identical twins began to show more differences in their eating habits, suggesting that environmental factors become more important as they grow older.
“Although genetics play a major role in food fussiness, the environment also contributes,” said senior researcher Clare Lewellyn, an associate professor of obesity at UCL. For example, shared family mealtime routines seem to have a more significant impact during toddlerhood.
This suggests that efforts to expand a child’s diet, such as repeatedly introducing the same foods and offering a variety of fruits and vegetables, are most effective in the early years. According to the researchers, environmental factors accounted for about 25% of the differences in picky eating among children.
While fussy eating has a strong genetic basis, it is not set in stone, noted senior researcher Alison Fildes, an academic fellow at the University of Leeds. “Parents can continue to encourage their children to eat a wide range of foods as they grow, but peers and friends might play a bigger role in shaping children’s diets during adolescence.”
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