25 Sep UCL Study Finds Tendency to Fussy Eating May Be Genetic
MedicalResearch.com Interview with:
Dr. Nas
Dr Zeynep Nas Ph.D.
Postdoctoral Research Fellow
Department of Behavioural Science and Health
Institute of Epidemiology & Health Care
University College London
MedicalResearch.com: What is the background for this study?
Response: We were interested in why some children are more selective in their food intake and more reluctant to try new foods compared to those who are not. We investigated this question in a twin study, which compares identical twins (who share all of their genes) to non-identical twins (who share half) to understand the relative influence of genetics versus the environment in shaping individual differences in fussy eating.
MedicalResearch.com: What are the main findings?
Response: Using data from Gemini, a population-based twin cohort in the UK, we found that on average, food fussiness levels are very stable across five time points (16 months, 3, 5, 7 and 13 years) and individual differences in fussy eating were largely due to genetic factors. We also found that the environment has a sizeable supporting role and is particularly influential in toddlerhood.
MedicalResearch.com: What should readers take away from your report?
Response: Individual differences in children’s fussy eating are not so much due to differences in parenting styles but are largely down to genetic differences between children. However, fussy eating is a complex behaviour, and the environment is also important and there are lots of things parents can do to help support their children.
Evidence from other studies indicates that three strategies may be particularly helpful:
1) Continue to offer foods that children might be nervous about;
2) Continue to offer children a wide variety of foods and give them the opportunity to try different foods, even if they don’t eat them; and
3) Eat with your child as often as you can to show your child that the foods they are worried about are OK to eat and enjoyable. Making mealtimes enjoyable, and not pressuring your child to eat something if they don’t want to, can help keep mealtimes stress free.
MedicalResearch.com: What recommendations do you have for future research as a results of this study?
Response: We encourage research in other populations and examining food fussiness in adult samples. Genome-wide association studies are also needed to identify specific genetic variants involved in fussy eating. More generally, we recommend future studies exploring strategies that may be effective with more extreme forms of fussy eating.
MedicalResearch.com: Is there anything else you would like to add? Any disclosures?
Response: We would like to acknowledge MQ mental health research for their support and are grateful to participants of the Gemini twin study.
Citation: Nas, Z., Herle, M., Kininmonth, A.R., Smith, A.D., Bryant-Waugh, R., Fildes, A. and Llewellyn, C.H. (2024), Nature and nurture in fussy eating from toddlerhood to early adolescence: findings from the Gemini twin cohort. J Child Psychol Psychiatr. https://doi.org/10.1111/jcpp.14053
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Last Updated on September 25, 2024 by Marie Benz MD FAAD