Got a fussy-eating child? You may be part of the cause, as genetics plays a huge role in it

Every parent has at some occasion encountered a child refusing to eat certain foods. As annoying as it may be, fussy eating is possibly associated mostly with genetics, according to a large study in the UK that examined food habits of thousands of children over a period of time.

Food Fussiness or FF is "the tendency to eat a small range of foods, due to pickiness and/or reluctance to try new foods," and peaks at around seven years of age, according to the study published in the Journal of Child Psychology and Psychiatry.

The study participants were identical and non-identical twins whose food habits were tracked over 13 years. This is the first twin study of genetic and environmental contributions to the developmental trajectory of FF from toddlerhood to early adolescence, and stability and change over time, said the study whose lead authors are Zeynep Nas and Moritz Herle.

The study found genetics, or specifically DNA, to be the top factor behind food fussiness.

"Genetic variation in the population explained 60 per cent of the differences in pickiness at 16 months, rising to 74 per cent and more from three to 13 years old," it said.

Individual differences in fussy eating, it said, were largely explained by genetic factors at all ages.

"Fussy eating also shows a significant proportion of environmental influence, especially in toddlerhood, and may, therefore, benefit from early interventions throughout childhood," it added.

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The study was done on a so-called 'Gemini' population of  4,804 twins born in 2007.

Parents were asked to fill questionnaires on their eating behaviour at different ages: 16 months, and ages of three, five, seven and 13.

The scientists found that fussy eating habits were more similar among identical twins than non-identical twins.

But fussy eating can be fixed, even though it has genetic underpinnings, according to Dr Alison Fildes, a co-author of the study.

“Parents can continue to support their children to eat a wide variety of foods throughout childhood and into adolescence, but peers and friends might become a more important influence on children’s diets as they reach their teens.”

(With inputs from agencies)