FAQ: Kids and Picky Eating

Researchers from Duke University suggested in their study that more than 20 percent of school-aged children are identified as selective eaters, with majority being “moderately picky”.

The scientific journal Pediatrics, where the study was published, said that more than a fifth of the kids were selective eaters, whereas about 18 per cent were assigned the category of “moderately picky”, and 3 per cent – “severely selective”. “The children we’re talking about are not just misbehaving kids who refuse to eat their broccoli”.

Children that were selective with their food choices paralleled early symptoms of anxiety and other related mental impairments. While most children only turn their nose up at a few types of foods, there are some that keep themselves extremely limited in their eating – preferring only two or three foods.

Zucker said the study did not intend to cause panic among parents of picky eaters.

Children with moderate and severe selective eating disorder also showed symptoms of anxiety and depression that they are having problems socializing with others as well.

In fact, children who were categorized as severe selective eaters were more than twice as likely to have depression or anxiety later in life.

The researchers said that some of the children who refuse to eat may have heightened sense, which can make the texture, smell and taste of some of their foods overwhelming and cause them to feel aversion and disgust. For other children, the behavior is triggered by a bad experience with a certain food.

Kids who are more inclined to be very picky are associated with later diagnosis of depression, ADHD and anxiety.

Researchers at Duke University have taken a closer look at those children in a new study and made some surprising findings. But only 3 percent of young children studied were that picky. They suggest the condition might be better described as avoidant/restrictive food intake disorder (ARFID). These are the kids who typically outgrow their pickiness as they mature.

The researchers advised the parents to get their children checked for such problems.

Experts also say the take-home message for parents is that extreme picky eating is not your fault. Those children were more than twice as likely to be diagnosed with depression or social anxiety.

Two years later, the conclusion has became stronger after discovering that the kids who have been picky eaters during their preschool years have manifested anxiety disorders.

For severe picky eaters, eating out is too challenging, Zucker said. The Inquisitr has previously reported there may be a genetic component to picky eating as well.

It’s normal for young children to sometimes need to be reintroduced to food, sometimes as many as 10 times before finally liking the food, said Dr. Lisa Thebner, a Manhattan pediatrician.