Childhood Obesity and Interpersonal Dynamics During Family Meals

Abstract

WHAT'S KNOWN ON THIS SUBJECT: Family meals are protective for child health, but there are inconsistent findings in relation to child weight status. More research is needed examining why family meals are protective for child health and whether there are differences by child weight status. WHAT THIS STUDY ADDS:The current mixed-methods study used direct observational methods to examine family dynamics during family meals and child weight status. Results indicated that positive family interpersonal and food-related dynamics during family meals were associated with reduced prevalence of childhood obesity. abstract BACKGROUND: Family meals have been found to be associated with a number of health benefits for children; however, associations with obesity have been less consistent, which raises questions about the specific characteristics of family meals that may be protective against childhood obesity. The current study examined associations between interpersonal and food-related family dynamics at family meals and childhood obesity status. METHODS:The current mixed-methods, cross-sectional study included 120 children (47% girls; mean age: 9 years) and parents (92% women; mean age: 35 years) from low-income and minority communities. Families participated in an 8-day direct observational study in which family meals were video-recorded in their homes. Family meal characteristics (eg, length of the meal, types of foods served) were described and associations between dyadic (eg, parent-child, child-sibling) and familylevel interpersonal and food-related dynamics (eg, communication, affect management, parental food control) during family meals and child weight status were examined.

Beyond the dinner table: who’s having breakfast, lunch and dinner family meals and which meals are associated with better diet quality and BMI in pre-school children?

“…This finding supports prior research conducted with elementary age children and adolescents that shows mixed findings regarding family meal frequency and child weight status 26,27,43-50 One potential reason for this finding is that although the diet quality of foods consumed by children at family meals may be healthier (e.g., fruits, vegetables), the portion sizes of food consumed by children at family meals may still be large thus, higher caloric intake at family meals would not lead to lower weight status in children. Another reason may be that the weight status range in the samples was somewhat restricted, with one study having children between the 50 th and 95 th BMI percentile and the other study having all children 50 th percentile and above.…”

Perspectives About Family Meals from Racially/Ethnically and Socioeconomically Diverse Households With and Without an Overweight/Obese Child

“…These findings may suggest that promoting communication and connection during family meals and using less controlling parent feeding practices creates an atmosphere at family meals that is conducive to family meal enjoyment and healthy eating in children, thus potentially leading to child normal weight status. Previous research supports these current findings by showing associations between a positive emotional atmosphere in the home, 24 a positive emotional atmosphere during family meals, 15,25 less controlling feeding practices, [26][27][28][29][30] and child normal weight status. Second, findings indicated that parents of an overweight/ obese child: (1) had family meals because it was ''tradition''; (2) tended to use pressure-to-eat feeding practices with their children at family meals (e.g., ''clean your plate'' rule); (3) allowed electronic devices during family meals; (4) reported child behavior problems at family meals; and (5) reported problems with getting children to help clean up, compared to parents of normal weight children.…”

“…Additionally, having more distractions during meals (i.e., electronic devices), child behavior problems, and parental pressure-toeat feeding practices may create an environment that is less conducive to family enjoyment of the meals, overeating, and more unhealthy food intake, thus potentially leading to child overweight/obese status. Past research supports these current findings by showing associations between electronic devices at meals, 31 parent controlling feeding practices, [26][27][28][29][30] negative emotional atmosphere at family meals, 15,25 and child overweight/obese status.…”

“…study. 15 Family Meals, LIVE! is a mixed-methods, cross-sectional study designed to identify key family home environment factors related to eating behaviors that increase or minimize the risk for childhood obesity.…”

“…Detailed study methods are described elsewhere. 15 Given the intense involvement of the study (i.e., video-recording 8 days of family meals and two 2-hour home visits), participants were given the iPad that was used to video-record their family meals as their study incentive. This helped ensure that the iPads would not get lost and would be well taken care of.…”