Fussy eating in children largely down to genetics, research shows 挑食怪不了孩子，主要是基因在作祟 Parents who find themselves exasperated by their child’s fussy eating, take heart: the refusal to tuck into a broader range of foods is largely down to genes rather than parenting, according to scientists. Researchers investigated eating habits in toddlers to teenagers and found that on average fussiness over food changed little from 16 months to 13 years old. There was a minor peak in pickiness at seven years, then a slight decline thereafter. When they looked into the drivers of fussy eating, DNA emerged as the dominant factor. 那些被孩子挑食行为所激怒的家长们，请振作一下：科学家们发现，孩子拒绝吃更多种类的食物主要归因于基因，而非父母的教育。 研究人员调查了幼儿到青少年的饮食习惯，发现平均来看，挑食的情况从16个月到13岁变化不大。挑食在7岁时达到一个小高峰，随后略有下降。 当他们研究挑食的原因时，发现DNA是主导因素。 ☞ fussy 英 [ˈfʌsi] 美 [ˈfʌsi] adj. 爱挑剔的，难取悦的；过分装饰的，过于繁琐的；紧张不安的；婴儿爱哭的 Fussy eating can be developed at a young age. 挑食的习惯一般都是在儿童时期形成的。 ☞ exasperate 英 [ɪɡˈzæspəreɪt] 美 [ɪɡˈzæspəreɪt] v. 使烦恼，使恼怒；使恶化 If someone or something exasperates you, they annoy you and make you feel frustrated or upset. 触怒; 激怒 The sheer futility of it all exasperates her. 它的完全无效使她很恼火。 ☞ take heart 获得勇气或信心：开始感觉更好和更有希望。 ☞ refusal 英 [rɪˈfjuːz(ə)l] 美 [rɪˈfjuːz(ə)l] n. 拒绝，回绝；拒绝接受，拒绝给予；优先取舍权，优先购买权（first refusal）；选择权；（马）（对障碍物的）拒跳 ☞ tuck into 美 [tʌk ˈɪntə; tʌk ˈɪntu; tʌk ˈɪntuː] 吃，尤其是热情地吃：指享用食物，尤其是热情地吃。 ☞ toddle 英 [ˈtɒdl] 美 [ˈtɑːdl] v. 蹒跚学步，摇摇晃晃地走；步行，溜达，闲逛 n. （学步幼儿的）蹒跚，走路不稳 ☞ thereafter 英 [ˌðeərˈɑːftə(r)] 美 [ˌðerˈæftər] adv. 其后，此后 Thereafter means after the event or date mentioned. 其后 The plan will help you lose 3-4 pounds the first week, and 1-2 pounds the weeks thereafter. 该计划将帮助你在第1周减3到4磅，其后每周减1到2磅。