Parents worried about whether their fussy eaters picked up their habits from their parents finally got an answer. A U.K. study published on Thursday, Sept. 19, found that being a picky eater largely comes from the genes a person has.
Researchers studied 2,400 pairs of twins. They discovered that genetic were the main factor in eating habits. A person’s DNA is responsible for 60%-83% of the “fussy” trait.
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It can also be more serious than just being a picky eater. Fussy eating can be a symptom of Avoidant and Restrictive Food Intake Disorder (ARFID), a relatively recent diagnosis, according to researchers.
Signs of the eating disorder can include a lack of interest in food, avoidance of foods with certain colors, textures or shapes and fear of the consequences of eating food. Experts noted that this diagnosis requires a specialist.
While the study did not offer solutions for just plain picky eaters, doctors have some. Researchers said to still offer children a wide variety of food. Offering foods that kids have rejected in the past on a normal basis can help. Doctors also suggested eating new foods in a calm environment alongside the child.
Also, keep in mind, it is not all genetic. The study said that there are still factors at home that have an impact, like the types of food eaten together at family dinners, especially for toddlers. The study also noted that as kids grow up, they’ll likely be exposed to different foods from friends and others, most likely making them less picky eaters.
[JACK AYLMER]
PARENTS OF FUSSY EATERS BREATHE A SIGH OF RELIEF…
IT’S NOT YOUR FAULT.
WELL IT KIND OF IS… AND KIND OF ISN’T.
TURNS OUT A NEW STUDY FOUND BEING A PICKY EATER LARGELY COMES FROM THE GENES A PERSON HAS.
A STUDY OF 24-HUNDRED PAIRS OF TWINS DISCOVERED GENETICS WERE THE MAIN FACTOR IN EATING HABITS– RESPONSIBLE FOR 60 TO 83 PERCENT OF THE “FUSSY” TRAIT.
IT CAN ALSO BE MORE SERIOUS THAN JUST BEING PICKY.
SO-CALLED FUSSY EATING CAN BE A SYMPTOM OF AVOIDANT AND RESTRICTIVE FOOD INTAKE DISORDER– A RELATIVELY RECENT DIAGNOSIS, ACCORDING TO RESEARCHERS.
SIGNS OF THE EATING DISORDER CAN BE LACK OF INTEREST IN FOOD, AVOIDANCE OF FOODS WITH CERTAIN COLORS, TEXTURES OR SHAPES AND FEAR OF THE CONSEQUENCES OF EATING. EXPERTS SAY THIS DIAGNOSIS REQUIRES A SPECIALIST.
WHILE THE STUDY DOESN’T OFFER SOLUTIONS FOR JUST PLAIN PICKY EATERS– DOCTORS HAVE SOME. THEY SAY STILL OFFER YOUR CHILDREN A WIDE VARIETY OF FOOD. OFFERING FOOD ON A NORMAL BASIS THAT KIDS HAVE REJECTED IN THE PAST AND DOING IT IN A CALM ENVIRONMENT BY SITTING DOWN WITH YOUR CHILDREN WHEN THEY EAT.
KEEP IN MIND, IT’S NOT ALL GENETIC.
THE STUDY SAYS THERE ARE STILL FACTORS AT HOME THAT HAVE AN IMPACT– LIKE THE TYPES OF FOOD EATEN TOGETHER AS A FAMILY– ESPECIALLY WHEN YOU’RE A TODDLER.
AND AS YOUR KID GROWS UP RESEARCHERS SAY THEY’LL BE EXPOSED TO DIFFERENT FOODS FROM FRIENDS AND OTHERS– MOST LIKELY MAKING THEM LESS PICKY.
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