The impact of genetics on the eating behavior of children from 16 months to 13 years

According to a new study conducted by researchers from University College London (UCL), King's College London, and University of Leeds, the appetite for food is largely innate and persists from early childhood into early adolescence. The study helps to understand the causes of compulsive eating in children and its evolution throughout growth.
The results were published in the Journal of Child Psychology & Psychiatry. The study was funded by the UK charity MQ Mental Health Research and involved parents of identical or non-identical twins living in England and Wales. It focused on children aged 16 months to 13 years, allowing researchers to assess trends and long-term changes in children's eating behavior.
The data analysis showed that the average level of snacking remained relatively constant during this period, although there were some fluctuations: in particular, snacking peaked around age seven, after which there was a slight decline. This suggests that genetic predisposition to cravings plays an important role throughout childhood, and that changes over time are more related to evolving environmental conditions.
Interestingly, common environmental influences shared by both halves of the twin pair, such as family eating habits and types of food consumed at home, were significant only during early childhood. As children grew, environmental factors specific to each twin, such as personal experiences and social interactions (for example, friends with different food preferences or school influences), began to play an increasingly important role.
Being a picky eater, defined as a tendency to avoid certain foods due to their texture, taste, or appearance, and a reluctance to try new foods, is a common phenomenon in children. This phenomenon often causes concern for parents and caregivers, who may feel responsible for this food selectivity and think it is related to their parenting style or other aspects of the family environment.
However, the study proves that picky eating has a genetic basis in most cases, which alleviates parents' anxiety. Experts emphasize that this behavior is the result of biological factors and does not always depend on the parenting methods used by parents.
“Being a picky eater is not just a temporary phenomenon, but a stable trait that persists for many years,” note the researchers. The lead author of the study, Professor Claire Llewellyn from the Department of Behavioural Science and Health at University College London, explains: “Despite the dominant role of genetic factors in shaping food preferences, environmental influences cannot be completely ruled out. During childhood, common family factors, such as regular shared meals, influence being a picky eater. Therefore, early interventions aimed at broadening a child's food intake, such as consistent exposure to new foods and repeated offerings of a variety of fruits and vegetables, may prove particularly effective.”
Other scientists have utilized data from the Gemini study, supported by the University of California, to analyze genetic and environmental influences. This study involved 2,400 pairs of twins, making it the largest database for analyzing the eating behavior of twins. Parents filled out questionnaires about their children's eating habits at 16 months, then at three, five, seven, and 13 years. This detailed and extensive information allowed researchers to closely examine the dynamics of eating behavior and its relationship with genetic and environmental factors.
To assess the relative contribution of genetics and environment, researchers compared the level of similarity in eating behavior among identical and fraternal twins. Pairs of identical twins, having identical genetic material, show much greater similarity in taste and selectivity than twins who share only 50% of their genes. This indicates a strong genetic influence on the formation of selective eating habits in children.
Interestingly, pairs of identical twins became less similar in terms of selective eating as they grew older, suggesting an increasing role of environmental factors specific during adolescence. These could include personal preferences, changing social environments, or the acquisition of new taste preferences influenced by external circumstances.
The results of the study also offer parents and educators a different perspective on the issue of snacking. Given the innate nature of this trait, it is important to understand that parents cannot fully control their children's eating behavior, but they can influence the early stages of its development by being patient and regularly introducing new foods into the diet.
Thus, this study highlights the genetic basis of children's selective eating and confirms that many aspects of children's eating behavior are due to heredity. At the same time, it underscores the importance of creating a supportive environment during childhood to encourage the development of more flexible and varied eating habits, which can help children become less selective and open up to new food experiences.
 

Artificial insemination and its impact on food preferences

An interesting aspect that deserves attention is how artificial insemination techniques can affect the formation of food preferences in children. Artificial insemination, including in vitro fertilization (IVF) and IVF with egg donation, is a complex and delicate process that leads to certain epigenetic changes in the child's development. These changes can affect the genes responsible for metabolism, taste perception, and food preferences.
There is a theory that children conceived through artificial insemination may have slightly different eating habits and taste preferences compared to children conceived naturally. This is due to possible changes in gene expression, which may affect the formation of taste buds and olfactory structures. These children may be more sensitive to certain textures and flavors, which may ultimately increase or decrease the tendency to be a picky eater.
Moreover, prenatal development and exposure to the hormones used for IVF preparation can also lead to certain changes in the eating behavior of the unborn child. These changes may manifest later in life when the child is exposed to new foods and flavors.
However, it is important to keep in mind that research in this area is still in its early stages, and scientists are still studying exactly how artificial insemination affects food preferences and what factors play key roles. While the genetic basis of selective eating remains dominant, artificial insemination techniques may have additional, yet poorly understood, influences on eating behavior.