October 22, 2024, 3:23 pm | Read time: 4 minutes
While some people will eat just about anything, there are others who are very picky about what ends up on their plates. But is this eating behavior based solely on individual taste and experience, or can it be genetically determined? A new study got to the bottom of this question.
Many parents are likely familiar with the scenario where their children completely refuse to eat certain foods. So-called “picky eaters” are widespread among children. Around 22 percent of children aged between four and 30 months are unable to embrace every meal.1 Parents, therefore, often wonder whether this is just a phase or whether they are actually to blame for their children’s eating behavior. However, recent research suggests that genetic predispositions may be responsible for picky eating behavior.
Table of Contents
Study with twins
For the present study, the scientists obtained data from the so-called Gemini research – a large population-based study with twins. In total, the research included 2402 families with twin infants born in England or Wales in 2007 and followed up over a decade.2 Data was collected at 16 months, three, five, seven, and 13 years of age, as reported by the parents, on the following:
- growth
- eating behavior
- appetite
- home Environment
- health information
Eating behavior survey
Researchers used the validated ‘FF’ scale, a subscale of the ‘Child Eating Behavior Questionnaire’ (CEBQ), to explore the link between picky eating behavior and potential genetic predispositions. This is a widely used questionnaire filled out by parents on children’s picky eating behavior. “FF” stands for “Food Fussiness,” i.e., picky or reluctant eating behavior. This questionnaire is a widely recognized scientific tool tailored to the children’s age and assesses their eating preferences and food neophobia.
Determination of similarity (zygosity)
In their study, the scientists differentiated between monozygotic twins, i.e., identical twins who share 100 percent of their genetic material, and dizygotic twins, i.e., fraternal twins who share an average of 50 percent of their DNA. Opposite-sex twin pairs were classified as dizygotic. In the case of same-sex dizygotic twins, the similarity was determined using a questionnaire. The parents filled this out once after eight months and once after 29 months, and the information was validated using DNA. Based on this, it was possible to classify various behaviors into three categories:
- Category one: Additive genetic influences
- Category two: Common/shared environmental influences
- Category three: Unique environmental influences
By comparing correlations between monozygotic and dizygotic twin pairs, the researchers could then classify the extent to which environmental or genetic factors influence behavior. If, for example, the monozygotic twin correlations turned out to be greater than the dizygotic ones, this was seen as a genetic basis. Similar values, on the other hand, were attributed to an environmental influence.
60 to 84 percent of picky eater behavior is due to genetic factors
The research team discovered that picky eating behavior remained relatively stable into adulthood. It was most pronounced up to the age of seven, after which a slight decline was observed. Around 60 percent of picky eating behavior in children aged 16 months was due to genetic factors. Between the ages of three and 13, the proportion rose to as much as 84 percent.
The scientists also noted that fraternal twins showed more variation in their picky eating behavior than identical twins, suggesting a genetic influence. However, the older the identical twins became, the more their eating habits differed. Environmental factors, such as personal experiences with different friends, are thought to be responsible for this. The researchers attribute around a quarter of the difference in eating behavior at ages seven and 13 to environmental factors. “This suggests that interventions that help children eat a wider variety of foods, such as repeated regular exposure to the same foods and offering a variety of fruits and vegetables, may be most effective in the early years,” explains Dr. Clare Llewellyn, one of the study authors, in a press release.3
However, lead author Dr. Alison Fildes points out in a press release that parents can still influence their children’s eating behavior. “While picky eating has a significant genetic component and can continue beyond early childhood, it is not necessarily unchangeable. Parents can help their children eat a wide variety of foods throughout childhood and adolescence, but peers and friends may have a more important influence on children’s diets when they become teenagers.”
Study Prolonged screen time can impact children’s diet
According to the study Certain eating habits can lead to erectile dysfunction
Study shows Regularly stretching can increase longevity – new study
Limitations of the study
“Our study indicates that picky eating behavior is not simply a ‘phase’ but can have a lasting trajectory,” says Llewellyn. This can be attributed to genetic conditions.
However, the study results should be interpreted cautiously: The research only demonstrates a correlation, not the underlying mechanisms. Furthermore, parents collected the data on the eating behavior themselves, which may not be entirely truthful.
As the study was only conducted with twins from England and Wales, the results may not represent other population groups. In addition, the study lost participants over time, which was particularly noticeable in the seven-year-old group.