Most children grow out of being picky eaters, but in some cases it’s associated with anxiety and depression. A recent study by the Journal Pediatrics shows selective eaters were twice as likely to suffer from anxiety or depression.
Doctor Richard Kreipe is a professor of pediatrics at Golisano Children’s Hospital and the medical director at the Western New York Comprehensive Care Center for Eating Disorders.
He says extremely picky eaters have heightened sensitivities to taste, texture, smells, and colors. "They’re very sensitive. And where most people would expect a taste experience would be something pleasurable, for some reason these individuals don’t find it pleasurable at all and so they will avoid it at all costs," the doctor says.
Pediatricians say the study should not be cause for panic, but there is a time when parents should approach a doctor. "If it really causes a lot of concern and distress in the family, if there’s a notice that the variety of foods are extremely limited, if there’s any kind of growth disturbance, if the child stops growing in height and weight," says Kreipe.
Kreipe recommends parents gently introduce new foods without making mealtime a battle of wills.