Health · Medical Research · 1 hr ago
NIN study links mothers’ feeding practices to children’s food reluctance
A study by India’s National Institute of Nutrition linked mothers’ feeding practices with children’s reluctance to try unfamiliar foods.
Researchers assessed 150 mother-child pairs in Addagutta, Hyderabad, whose children were aged two to seven.
Nearly 77% of the children showed moderate reluctance, while 11.3% showed high levels and 12% low levels.
Children whose mothers had moderate nutrition knowledge and positive feeding practices had lower reluctance scores.
Children with wasting were more likely to have higher reluctance scores, a link that may point to poorer dietary outcomes.
The study covered one low-income urban community and found associations, so it cannot show that feeding practices directly cause children’s food preferences.
Researchers recommend offering varied foods repeatedly without pressure, and say counselling could be strengthened through government programmes including ICDS and POSHAN Abhiyaan.
A study by researchers at the ICMR-National Institute of Nutrition found that mothers’ nutrition knowledge, attitudes and feeding practices were associated with children’s willingness to try unfamiliar foods.
Nearly 77% of the 150 children studied showed moderate food neophobia, while 11.3% showed high levels and 12% showed low levels.
Children whose mothers had moderate nutrition knowledge and positive feeding practices had lower food neophobia scores.
Children with wasting were more likely to have higher food neophobia scores than children with normal nutritional status.
The researchers said the findings support stronger nutrition counselling for caregivers, while cautioning that the study cannot establish cause and effect.
- Who
- Researchers at the ICMR-National Institute of Nutrition studied 150 mother-child pairs.
- What
- The study examined links between mothers’ feeding practices and children’s reluctance to try unfamiliar foods.
- When
- The pairs were assessed between August and October 2025. The study was published on October 29, 2026.
- Where
- Addagutta, Hyderabad.
- Why
- The researchers aimed to examine how maternal feeding practices were associated with children’s food neophobia and nutritional status.
This story does not have two clearly opposing sides.
Researchers assessed 150 mother-child pairs in Addagutta, Hyderabad.
The study was published in the Journal of Nutritional Science.
- Sample
- 150 mother-child pairs
- Study location
- Addagutta, Hyderabad
- Children’s ages
- Two to seven years
- Moderate food neophobia
- Nearly 77% of children
- High food neophobia
- 11.3% of children
- Low food neophobia
- 12% of children
What people are saying
caregivers should repeatedly offer a variety of foods without pressure, create positive mealtime experiences and respond supportively when children reject unfamiliar foods
the findings offer an opportunity to strengthen behavioural feeding counselling through existing government programmes such as the Integrated Child Development Services (ICDS) and POSHAN Abhiyaan