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The research, which has beed led by scientists at University College London and published in the Journal of Child Psychology and Psychiatry, looked at how genes and environmental factors could explain why some children refuse to try new foods, or are very fussy about what foods they choose to eat.
The team discovered that both traits have a 'substantial genetic basis' and are not just a reflection of parenting styles.
They analysed information from the Gemini study – the largest twin cohort – focussing on early life eating behaviours of 1,921 families with 16-month-old twins.
It is understood that 'food fussiness' is the tendency to be highly selective about the textures, taste and smell of foods a child is willing to eat, and is frequently viewed as a result of poor parenting. However, food neophobia – which is the refusal of many young children to try new food – is viewed as a normal development stage rather than a result of parents' behaviour.
It was discovered that while a home environment and parental behaviour influenced food fussiness more than food neophobia, the environmental factors were less important than a child's genetic influences.
Andrea Smith, UCL Health Behaviour Research Centre, jointly led the research, and said of the findings: "Establishing a substantial genetic influence on both of these traits might be quite a relief to parents as they often feel judged or feel guilty for their children's fussy eating.
"Understanding that these traits are largely innate might help to deflect this blame."
However, senior lead researcher for the paper, Dr Clare Llewellyn, UCL Health Behaviour Research Centre, added: "Genes are not our destiny. We know of many traits with a strong genetic basis that can nevertheless be changed, such as weight.
"It would be useful for future research to identify the important environmental shapers of food fussiness and neophobia in young children so that they might be targeted to reduce these behaviours."
(JP/LM)
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Children's Fussy Eating 'Down To Genetic Influences'
According to new research, parents are not to blame if their children are fussy eaters. Rather, the toddlers' eating habits are now said to be mainly the result of genetic influences.The research, which has beed led by scientists at University College London and published in the Journal of Child Psychology and Psychiatry, looked at how genes and environmental factors could explain why some children refuse to try new foods, or are very fussy about what foods they choose to eat.
The team discovered that both traits have a 'substantial genetic basis' and are not just a reflection of parenting styles.
They analysed information from the Gemini study – the largest twin cohort – focussing on early life eating behaviours of 1,921 families with 16-month-old twins.
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It is understood that 'food fussiness' is the tendency to be highly selective about the textures, taste and smell of foods a child is willing to eat, and is frequently viewed as a result of poor parenting. However, food neophobia – which is the refusal of many young children to try new food – is viewed as a normal development stage rather than a result of parents' behaviour.
It was discovered that while a home environment and parental behaviour influenced food fussiness more than food neophobia, the environmental factors were less important than a child's genetic influences.
Andrea Smith, UCL Health Behaviour Research Centre, jointly led the research, and said of the findings: "Establishing a substantial genetic influence on both of these traits might be quite a relief to parents as they often feel judged or feel guilty for their children's fussy eating.
"Understanding that these traits are largely innate might help to deflect this blame."
However, senior lead researcher for the paper, Dr Clare Llewellyn, UCL Health Behaviour Research Centre, added: "Genes are not our destiny. We know of many traits with a strong genetic basis that can nevertheless be changed, such as weight.
"It would be useful for future research to identify the important environmental shapers of food fussiness and neophobia in young children so that they might be targeted to reduce these behaviours."
(JP/LM)
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