There is a strong and graded association between parental weight status and risk of childhood obesity, which is significantly stronger for maternal weight. Parental obesity could be used to target preventive interventions in the preschool years to avoid serious adverse effects on the future health of children.

The Child Eating Behaviour Questionnaire (CEBQ) is a validated parent-report measure of appetitive traits associated with weight in childhood. There is currently no matched measure for use in adults. The aim of this study was to adapt the CEBQ into a self-report Adult Eating Behaviour Questionnaire (AEBQ) to explore whether the associations between appetitive traits and BMI observed in children are present in adults. Two adult samples were recruited one year apart from an online survey panel in 2013 (n = 708) and 2014 (n = 954). Both samples completed the AEBQ and self-reported their weight and height. Principal component analysis (PCA) was used to derive 35 items for the AEBQ in Sample 1 and confirmatory factor analysis (CFA) was used to replicate the factor structure in Sample 2. Reliability of the AEBQ was assessed using Cronbach’s α and a two week test-retest in a sub-sample of 93 participants. Correlations between appetitive traits measured by the AEBQ and BMI were calculated. PCA and CFA results showed the AEBQ to be a reliable questionnaire (Cronbach’s α > 0.70) measuring 8 appetitive traits similar to the CEBQ [Hunger (H), Food Responsiveness (FR), Emotional Over-Eating (EOE), Enjoyment of Food (EF), Satiety Responsiveness (SR), Emotional Under-eating (EUE), Food Fussiness (FF) and Slowness in Eating (SE)]. Associations with BMI showed FR, EF (p < 0.05) and EOE (p < 0.01) were positively associated and SR, EUE and SE (p < 0.01) were negatively associated. Overall, the AEBQ appears to be a reliable measure of appetitive traits in adults which translates well from the validated child measure. Adults with a higher BMI had higher scores for ‘food approach’ traits (FR, EOE and EF) and lower scores for ‘food avoidance’ traits (SR, EUE and SE).

Given the abundance of misreporting about diet and cancer in the media and online, cancer survivors are at risk of misinformation. The aim of this study was to explore cancer survivors' beliefs about diet quality and cancer, the impact on their behaviour and sources of information. Semi‐structured interviews were conducted with adult cancer survivors in the United Kingdom who had been diagnosed with any cancer in adulthood and were not currently receiving treatment (n = 19). Interviews were analysed using Thematic Analysis. Emergent themes highlighted that participants were aware of diet affecting risk for the development of cancer, but were less clear about its role in recurrence. Nonetheless, their cancer diagnosis appeared to be a prompt for dietary change; predominantly to promote general health. Changes were generally consistent with healthy eating recommendations, although dietary supplements and other non‐evidence‐based actions were mentioned. Participants reported that they had not generally received professional advice about diet and were keen to know more, but were often unsure about information from other sources. The views of our participants suggest cancer survivors would welcome guidance from health professionals. Advice that provides clear recommendations, and which emphasises the benefits of healthy eating for overall well‐being, may be particularly well‐received.

A healthy lifestyle following a cancer diagnosis is linked with better long-term outcomes. Health professionals can play an important role in promoting healthy lifestyles after cancer, but little is known about the factors that influence whether or not they give lifestyle advice. We conducted an online survey to examine levels of, and predictors of, health professionals' provision of lifestyle advice to cancer patients in the United Kingdom. The survey included questions on awareness of lifestyle guidelines for cancer survivors, current practices with regard to giving advice on smoking, diet, exercise, weight and alcohol, and perceived barriers to giving advice. Nurses, surgeons and physicians (N=460) responded to the survey. Many (36%) were not aware of any lifestyle guidelines for cancer survivors, but 87% reported giving some lifestyle advice; although this was lower for individual behaviours and often to <50% of patients. Respondents who were aware of lifestyle guidelines were more likely to give lifestyle advice on all behaviours (all OR's>1.76, all P's<0.05). Not believing lifestyle would affect outcomes was associated with lower odds of giving lifestyle advice (all OR's<0.48, all P's<0.05). Improved survivorship education for health professionals may increase the number of patients receiving lifestyle advice, and improve their long-term outcomes.

Objective To examine associations between perceived weight discrimination and changes in weight, waist circumference, and weight status. Methods Data were from 2944 men and women aged ≥50 years participating in the English Longitudinal Study of Ageing. Experiences of weight discrimination were reported in 2010–2011 and weight and waist circumference were objectively measured in 2008–2009 and 2012–2013. ANCOVAs were used to test associations between perceived weight discrimination and changes in weight and waist circumference. Logistic regression was used to test associations with changes in weight status. All analyses adjusted for baseline BMI, age, sex, and wealth. Results Perceived weight discrimination was associated with relative increases in weight (+1.66kg, p<.001) and waist circumference (+1.12cm, p=.046). There was also a significant association with odds of becoming obese over the follow-up period (OR=6.67, 95% CI 1.85–24.04) but odds of remaining obese did not differ according to experiences of weight discrimination (OR=1.09, 95% CI 0.46–2.59, p=.853). Conclusions Our results indicate that rather than encouraging people to lose weight, weight discrimination promotes weight gain and the onset of obesity. Implementing effective interventions to combat weight stigma and discrimination at the population level could reduce the burden of obesity.

(SMJ, SLQ, MR, SWD, JW). SMJ is a Wellcome Trust Senior Fellow in Clinical Science (WT107963AIA). SMJ is supported by the Rosetrees Trust, the Roy Castle Lung Cancer foundation, the Stoneygate Trust, the Welton Trust, the Garfield Weston Trust and UCLH Charitable Foundation. This work was partly undertaken at UCLH/UCL who received a propor D H NIH' B ' C funding scheme (NN, SMJ). SLQ is supported by a CRUK postdoctoral fellowship (C50664/A24460) and the Roy Castle Lung Cancer Foundation. JW is supported by a CRUK career development fellowship (C7492/A17219). RJB is supported by Yorkshire Cancer Research Academic Fellowship funding (L389RB).

A habit-based intervention successfully modified parental feeding behaviors, affected children's diets positively, and was well received by parents. Habit theory provides a promising new tool to support family-based obesity prevention. This trial was registered as ISRCTN09910187.

Objective To examine whether the adverse effect of obesity on psychological wellbeing can be explained by weight discrimination. Methods The study sample included 5056 older (≥50y) men and women living in England participating in the English Longitudinal Study of Ageing. Participants reported experiences of weight discrimination in everyday life, and completed measures of quality of life (CASP-19 scale), life satisfaction (Satisfaction with Life Scale), and depressive symptoms (8-item CES-D scale). Height and weight were objectively measured, with obesity defined as BMI ≥30kg/m2. Mediation analyses were used to test the role of perceived weight discrimination in the relationship between obesity and each psychological factor. Results Obesity, weight discrimination, and psychological wellbeing were all significantly inter-related. Mediation models revealed significant indirect effects of obesity through perceived weight discrimination on quality of life (β=−0.072, SE=0.008), life satisfaction (β=−0.038, SE=0.008), and depressive symptoms (β=0.057, SE=0.008), with perceived weight discrimination explaining approximately 40% (range: 39.5%–44.1%) of the total association between obesity and psychological wellbeing. Conclusion Perceived weight discrimination explains a substantial proportion of the association between obesity and psychological wellbeing in English older adults. Efforts to reduce weight stigma in society could help to reduce the psychological burden of obesity.