Fussy eating may be sign of mental illness: Being picky with food is linked to greater levels of anxiety and depression 

  • A new study has found a link between picky eaters and mental problems 
  • Moderate fussy eaters also associated with greater levels of anxiety 
  • Around 14 to 20 per cent of parents say their children are fussy eaters  

By Colin Fernandez for the Daily Mail

Published: 19:31 EST, 2 August 2015 | Updated: 02:49 EST, 3 August 2015

Small children can be notoriously fussy eaters – but it may be a mistake to dismiss this as no more than a passing phase, parents have been warned.

In some cases picky eating could be a sign of serious mental problems, according to a study.

Even moderate levels of pickiness in eating were associated with greater levels of depression and anxiety, researchers found.

Even moderate levels of pickiness in eating were associated with greater levels of depression and anxiety

Even moderate levels of pickiness in eating were associated with greater levels of depression and anxiety

They studied more than 3,000 children aged two to six to find how closely depression was linked to fussy eating. 

Those who ate the most selectively were more than twice as likely as normal eaters to have a diagnosis of depression.

Lead researcher Dr Nancy Zucker said: ‘The question for many parents and physicians is: when is picky eating truly a problem? 

'The children we’re talking about are not just misbehaving kids who refuse to eat their broccoli.’

The study, published in the journal Pediatrics, found that between 14 and 20 per cent of parents said their children were often or always selective eaters. 

Of these, nearly 18 per cent were classified as moderately picky. About 3 per cent were classed as severely selective – with a diet that ‘limited their ability to eat with others’.

Children with both moderate and severely selective eating habits displayed symptoms of anxiety and other mental problems. Dr Zucker, director of the Duke Centre for Eating Disorders in the US, added: ‘These are children whose eating has become so limited or selective that it’s starting to cause problems. 

The study, published in the journal Pediatrics, found that between 14 and 20 per cent of parents said their children were often or always selective eaters

The study, published in the journal Pediatrics, found that between 14 and 20 per cent of parents said their children were often or always selective eaters

‘Impairment can take many different forms. It can affect the child’s health, growth, social functioning, and the parent-child relationship. 

'The child can feel like no one believes them, and parents can feel blamed for the problem.

WEIGHT FEARS OF GIRLS AGED 14

Two-thirds of girls aged 14 and 15 are unhappy with their weight, a study of 78,000 pupils has found.

 Those who want to lose weight rose to 64 per cent last year from 56 per cent in 2009. Many said they missed breakfast or lunch in an attempt to slim.

Concerns among teenage boys that they weigh too much have also increased. 

Nearly one in three boys – 29 per cent – said they want to shed the pounds in the latest survey from last year.

The figures compare to 22 per cent of males in 1991 who wanted to slim and 54 per cent of females, according to the research by the Schools Health Education Project.

‘There’s no question that not all children go on to have chronic selective eating in adulthood. 

'But because these children are seeing impairment in their health and well-being now, we need to start developing ways to help these parents and doctors know when and how to intervene.’

Some children who refuse to eat might have heightened senses, causing them to be overwhelmed by the smell, texture and taste of certain foods, she pointed out.

Other problems leading to selective eating were ‘mothers with elevated anxiety’ and ‘family conflicts around food’.

Selective eaters were also more likely to have a mother who was a substance abuser or who has sought mental health treatment.

A bad experience with a certain food could lead to anxiety when a child is given something else that is new and untrustworthy.

The study’s authors say the term ‘picky eating’ is now obsolete and suggest it is reclassified as ‘avoidant/restrictive food intake disorder’.

 

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