Picky eating is linked to anxiety and depression, study shows

It's safe to say most kids don't like eating their broccoli unless their dessert privileges are at risk. But some kids are notoriously more picky than others, to the point where mealtimes at home and at daycare are routinely a real struggle. For those young children, selective eating is linked to conditions like depression and social anxiety as they grow up, according to a study published in the journal Pediatrics on Monday.

Researchers followed more than 900 kids aged 2 to 6 for an average of three years. Kids considered moderately or severely picky were more likely to experience symptoms of anxiety and depression. The moderately picky bunch was also associated more often with separation anxiety and ADHD.

The study doesn't suggest that picky eating causes these conditions, though it is important to expose young children to new foods.

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"I don't want people to think it's a foregone conclusion that if your child is a picky eater that they're going to be anxious or depressed,” University of Nebraska Medical Center director of innovation Laura Jana, who was not affiliated with the study, told The Wall Street Journal.