If your tiny tot seems to often make a fuss when it comes to food then that might not be an indicator of just his or her eating habits alone. According to a study published in the Pediatrics, researchers warn of a strong link between selective eating habits and mental problems.
The Daily Mail reports that the research project, which was lead by Dr Nancy Zucker, who studied more than 3000 children between the ages of two to six. Its results indicate that selective eaters were more that twice as likely as normal eaters to be diagnosed of mental issues like depression.
It showed that limited or selective eating patterns may also negatively affect the child’s health; growth, social functioning and even cause trust issues between parent and the child. The study suggests that factors like ‘mothers with elevated anxiety’ and ‘family conflicts around food’ could lead to unhealthy and selective eating patterns. Other reasons could be that some children might have heightened senses, which could cause them to be overwhelmed by the smell, texture and taste of certain foods, explains Dr Zucker. Even a bad experience with a certain type of food could make children wary of anything that seems to be new and untrustworthy later in life, which may heighten levels of anxiety among them.
