Picky eating might indicate psychological problems in children

Research just published in the journal pediatrics and conducted at Duke Medicine in Durham, NC, found that moderate and severe levels of selective eating were associated with psychological problems including depression, anxiety and attention-deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD). Most kids can be fussy about what they will and won’t eat at times, but some children have extreme food aversions.

To investigate this phenomenon, the researchers looked at a group of 917 children that were aged between 24 and 71 months. The children’s carers were questioned on the children’s eating habits, functioning, possible psychiatric symptoms and conditions in the home environment. Children with moderate or severe selective eating habits were almost twice as likely to experience increased symptoms of anxiety than children who were not picky with food. Picky eaters were also more likely to have raised symptoms of depression, social anxiety and generalized anxiety.

This is an interesting association and more research needs to be done on the matter. It is true that many autistic children have very specific food preferences and aversions. It is often extremely difficult to convince them to try new foods. An increasing body of studies is showing there is a strong relationship between the health of the gastrointestinal tract and the brain. Alternations in digestive health can have profound effects on mood, memory and learning abilities.

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