Comparing disordered eating and feeding practices in African American and Caucasian treatment-seeking youth with obesity

Abstract

Objectives: Examine racial differences in disordered eating and parental feeding in youth with obesity. Methods: A diverse sample of 131 treatment-seeking youth (M age = 12.84 years; Range age = 8-18 years; 65.6% African American, 34.4% Caucasian) with obesity (M BMIz = 2.60) completed a disordered eating questionnaire; parents completed a questionnaire about feeding practices. Results: No significant differences in disordered eating between African American and Caucasian youth emerged. Significant differences were found on parent feeding where parents of African American children endorsed more frequent use of pressure to eat, including ensuring and monitoring enough is eaten. Conclusions: Generally, comparisons of disordered eating and parent feeding practices between African American and Caucasian youth with obesity were not significant. Racial differences on some aspects of parental feeding practices were found. Future research should identify cultural factors impacting these differences. Clinical implications include providing culturally sensitive psychoeducation and interventions to address unhealthy feeding practices in diverse families.

Disordered Eating Attitude and Associated Factors among University Students in Ulaanbaatar, Mongolia

“…[14][15][16] Some studies have shown that the dissimilarity between sociocultural alteration and beliefs in different countries can influence eating problems. [17][18][19][20] Research on eating disorders has largely focused on adolescents, as adolescence is an intense anabolic period when requirements for all nutrients increases and EDs may impact on growth. 21 In addition, studies have shown that age can influence the development of DEAs and lead to EDs, especially in females aged 20 to 30 years who tend to become underweight.…”

Psychosociocultural Contributors to Maladaptive Eating Behaviors in African American Youth: Recommendations and Future Directions

“…153 Other work suggests the opposite or no differences between racial/ethnic groups. Lim and colleagues report no significant differences in disordered eating behaviors in a treatment seeking sample of African American and Caucasian youth, 108 and a 2019 study led by Cheng reported that there were no racial/ethnic differences in risk factors for disordered eating among a sample of young women with body image concerns. 154 External social influences may influence body image and eating behaviors over time.…”

“…107 Studies of treatment-seeking youth, on the other hand, suggest that African American parents may use more pressure to eat feeding strategies. 108 Furthermore, research indicates there may be a direct relationship between authoritarian parenting and child eating due to negative affect. For example, Assari and colleagues found that high maternal support was protective against weight gain over a 12-year period among African American female young adults.…”

Children’s perception of food parenting practices: adaptation and validation of the comprehensive feeding practices questionnaire in Chilean adolescents

“…Adolescence is characterized by complex transitions due to important physical but also psycho-social and dietary changes ( 6 , 7 ). During adolescence, maladaptive eating behaviors ( 8 ) and disorganized eating habits can occur ( 9 ), which lead to a reduction in eating quality ( 6 , 10 , 11 ), and which are associated with weight gain ( 12 – 14 ) and obesity, which generally persists into adulthood ( 9 , 15 – 18 ). Papamichael et al ( 19 ) showed that adolescents adopt diets characterized by high levels of sugar, fats, processed meats, and salt, which have been linked to an increased risk of developing non-transmissible diseases sooner than usual ( 14 , 17 ).…”

“…Negative eating behaviors during adolescence can be explained partly by the greater autonomy and independence acquired at this life stage ( 7 , 23 ). However, although children acquire greater autonomy in adolescence ( 9 ), parents continue to be responsible for meal preparation and eating at home ( 7 ). Therefore, parents continue to play an important role in their children’s development of eating habits during this period ( 25 , 26 ).…”