Fussy Eating Tendencies in Children Are Largely Caused by Genetics, Study Found

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By Danielle Ong , Parent Herald Sep 24, 06:43 am

Photo: (Photo : JEAN-FRANCOIS MONIER/AFP via Getty Images)

Fussy eating tendencies in children could be largely caused by genetics instead of parenting styles or environmental factors, a new study found.

Researchers for the University College London (UCL) investigated the eating habits of 2,400 sets of twin toddlers and teens born in 2007. Specifically, researchers studied the eating habits of identical twins and compared them to those of non-identical twins to determine the cause of food fussiness.

The study, published in the Journal of Child Psychology and Psychiatry, defined food fussiness as the tendency to eat only a limited range of food due to various reasons, including tastes and textures. It also points to a child's reluctance to try new food.

Study Reveals Genetics Influence Fussy Eating in Children

DNA was found to be a dominant factor in fussy eating tendencies in children. In fact, the study found that food fussiness was 60% a result of genetics in toddlers 16 months old. This rose to 74% among children aged three to 13.

Additionally, fussy eating tendencies were found to have endured into adolescence. Children who were slightly fussy eaters as toddlers also became fussier at the age of seven and less so as they grew older.

"The main takeaway from this work is that food fussiness is not something that arises from parenting. It really does come down to the genetic differences between us," Dr. Zeynep Nas, a behavioral geneticist at UCL and author of the study, said.

Other Factors That Influence Eating Habits

While genetics play a big role in food fussiness, researchers said the children's environment also influences their eating habits. Among toddlers, experiences such as the kinds of food they ate at home mattered. This means offering more variety to young children would be an effective way to resolve fussy eating tendencies.

In children ages seven to 13, individual experiences led to the variation in fussy eating habits. Having different friends, for instance, explained about 25% of differences in food fussiness.

The study mostly analyzed twins from wealthier white British households. The researchers may hold future studies that could focus on children from non-western populations, noting that food culture and security may have differences.