Parents have been let off the hook as a recent study shows that fussy eating in children is a result of genetics and not bad parenting.
The study, created by researchers at the University College, London, is based on about 2 000 households who contain twins. The twin factor in the study was used to determine between genetic and environmental factors in fussy eating.
The researchers found that environmental and genetic factors equally counted for a childs selective nature about food. However, when a child refused to try a new food, only 22 per cent of the factors that caused the childs fussiness were due to the environment. The other 78 per cent was to do with the childs genetics.
Andrea Smith, who jointly led the research, said, “Establishing a substantial genetic influence on both of these traits might be quite a relief to parents as they often feel guilty about their childrens fussy eating.”
The researchers said that although parents seem to be battling their childs genetic make-up, it does not mean that the behaviour cannot be changed.
“Genes are not our destiny,” said Clare Llewellyn, senior lead researcher in the study. “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 (when children refuse to try a new food) in young children so that they can be targeted to reduce these behaviours,” Llewellyn added.
