Why is eating so hard for us??

Early life and developmental conditions can set the stage for eating difficulties

Children born prematurely are more likely to struggle with eating than their full-term peers. A systematic review found that 43% of preterm infants and 25% of preterm children experienced oromotor eating difficulties—problems with chewing, swallowing, and coordinating the mouth and tongue [1]. These children also showed more challenging eating behaviors, such as food neophobia (fear of new foods), though the evidence certainty was very low [1]. The review also noted that mothers of preterm infants often felt anxious during feeding and used coercive practices like pressuring the child to eat, which may inadvertently make mealtimes harder [1].

In autism and ADHD, eating difficulties persist into adulthood. Autistic adults, with or without ADHD, reported significantly more eating problems than non-autistic adults, including sensory sensitivity to taste and texture, difficulty spilling food, and trouble telling whether they are hungry or full [2]. Food selectivity in this group was predicted by insistence on sameness and sensory sensitivity—core features of autism—suggesting that the drive for predictability and aversion to certain sensations can make a wide range of foods feel overwhelming [2].

Physical and emotional barriers make eating a complex task

For older adults, eating difficulties often stem from motoric problems: manipulating food on the plate and transporting it to the mouth can become challenging, which may lead to nutritional consequences [3]. These are not just minor annoyances—they can affect how much and how well a person eats, though the review focused on a Scandinavian context and did not quantify prevalence [3].

Emotional and family factors also matter. In young adults, unbalanced family cohesion—where family bonds are either too enmeshed or too disconnected—was linked to eating problems, and difficulties in emotion regulation fully explained this relationship [5]. In other words, growing up in a family with unhealthy closeness or distance may impair a person's ability to manage emotions, which in turn makes eating problems more likely [5]. This suggests that eating difficulties can be a sign of underlying emotional struggles rather than just a matter of willpower or habit.

Religious beliefs add another layer to eating and drinking

Eating, drinking, and swallowing are not purely physiological—they are embedded in religious laws about food sourcing, preparation, consumption, and fasting [4]. For patients receiving care, these beliefs can influence how they engage with eating and drinking, and healthcare providers need to understand the individual's religious perspective to support them properly [4]. The paper notes a lack of literature on this topic, but it highlights that what, when, and how we eat—or don't eat—are shaped by cultural and religious meaning, which can make eating feel complicated or fraught when those rules conflict with health needs or medical advice [4].

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