Abstract
Food fussiness (picky eating) increases risk for poor nutrition and eating disorders but its biological underpinnings are not understood. We aimed to investigate behavioral (observed as well as parent- and self-reported), and neural (using functional Magnetic Resonance Imaging (fMRI)) correlates of food fussiness. Adolescents completed an fMRI task during which they viewed photos of fruits and vegetables [F&V], high energy-density [High-ED] foods, and Non-foods. Following scanning, they completed a multi-item ad libitum meal [ALM], then an Eating in the Absence of Hunger [EAH] test. Parents completed the Child Eating Behavior Questionnaire [CEBQ]. Adolescents reported habitual dietary intake using a 24-hour dietary recall (ASA24). Adolescents were categorized based on CEBQ Food Fussiness [FF] scores, such that scores ≥ 3 = high FF (n = 23), and scores ≤ 2 = low FF (n = 28). The high vs. low FF group reported lower wanting for F&V stimuli in the fMRI task and consumed lower absolute and relative intake of F&V at the ALM, while ASA24 data also demonstrated greater % total kcal intake from added sugar. Adolescents with high FF demonstrated activation that was consistent with decreased approach toward F&V and increased approach toward High-ED foods. Neuroimaging results demonstrated differential responses to F&V and high-ED stimuli among adolescents with high food fussiness, providing preliminary evidence for a neural signature of food fussiness.