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Nature and nurture in fussy eating from toddlerhood to early adolescence: findings from the Gemini twin cohort
Food fussiness (FF) refers to the tendency to eat a limited variety of foods, often due to pickiness or reluctance to try new ones. This behavior is common in childhood and often causes concern for caregivers, though its causes remain unclear. This study by Nas et al. (2024) is the first twin study to examine the genetic and environmental factors that influence the development of FF from toddlerhood to early adolescence, as well as its stability and changes over time. The study used data from Gemini, a British cohort of 4,804 twins born in 2007. Parents reported their children’s FF using the Child Eating Behaviour Questionnaire ‘FF’ scale at ages 16 months (n = 3,854), 3 years (n = 2,666), 5 years (n = 2,098), 7 years (n = 703), and 13 years (n = 970). The analysis discovered a single FF trajectory that showed a little decrease from 7 to 13 years after increasing from 16 months to 7 years. Genetics strongly influenced the trajectory (>70%), with high genetic correlations indicating shared genetic factors. After toddlerhood, FF’s genetic effect grew considerably. Shared environmental influences were significant only in toddlerhood, while unique environmental factors explained 15%-26% of the variance, with lasting effects from age 5 onward. Genetic factors were the primary explanation for individual differences in FF at all ages. Environmental factors, particularly during toddlerhood, also played a significant role, suggesting that early interventions may be beneficial for managing FF. Future research should refine the FF trajectory and investigate specific patterns of FF development. [NPID: Food fussiness, genetic influence, environmental factors, twin study, eating behavior, early adolescence]
Year: 2024
