Do parents or siblings engage in more negative weight-based talk with children and what does it sound like? A mixed-methods study

Abstract

The current mixed-methods study examined the prevalence of negative weight-based talk across multiple family members (i.e., mother, father, older/younger brother, older/younger sister) and analyzed qualitative data to identify what negative weight-based talk sounds like in the home environment. Children (n = 60; ages 9–12) and their families from low income and minority households participated in the study. Children reported the highest prevalence of negative weight-based talk from siblings. Among specific family members, children reported a higher prevalence of negative weight-based talk from mothers and older brothers. In households with younger brothers, children reported less negative weight-based talk compared to other household compositions. Both quantitative and qualitative results indicated that mothers’ negative weight-based talk focused on concerns about child health, whereas fathers’ and siblings’ negative weight-based talk focused on child appearance and included teasing. Results suggest that interventions targeting familial negative weight-based talk may need to be tailored to specific family members.

The role of weight stigma in parental weight talk

“…It is noteworthy that the present findings showed that fathers were more likely than mothers to engage in weight conversations and make comments about others, but there were no differences in mothers' versus fathers' weight comments about themselves. This finding is contrary to other studies that have documented similar rates of weight talk between mothers and fathers or higher rates of weight talk from mothers compared with fathers . While it is beyond the scope of our study to identify reasons for differences in weight talk between fathers and mothers, one potential explanation for this finding could be different perspectives of parents and children.…”

“…This finding is contrary to other studies that have documented similar rates of weight talk between mothers and fathers 6 or higher rates of weight talk from mothers compared with fathers. 41,42 While it is beyond the scope of our study to identify reasons for differences in weight talk between fathers and mothers, one potential explanation for this finding could be different perspectives of parents and children. Previous studies typically assess parental weight talk from the perspective of the child, as opposed to the parent, 5 but studies that have compared reports of parents with those of their children have pointed to potential differences in frequency of weight talk.…”

The stigma of obesity in adolescence

“…If a parent feels guilty for an overweight child, especially if this feeling is accompanied by unsuccessful attempts to reduce body weight, it is possible that the parent expresses his anger, feeling of helplessness and frustration through stigmatizing attitudes and behaviors such as criticizing and negative comments about their overweight child. Berge et al [25] stated that unpleasant conversations in the family referring to body weight are more often initiated by mother and older siblings than by other family members. Conversations initiated by mothers focused on negative health consequences of being overweight, while conversation initiated by fathers and siblings mainly focused on appearance and had a form of teasing.…”

Validation of the Lithuanian Version of the Sociocultural Attitudes towards Appearance Questionnaire-4 (SATAQ-4) in a Student Sample

“…The Internalization subscale: Muscular/athletic consists of 5 items (1, 2, 6, 7, and 10) and figures out how much one believes he/she should look muscular and athletic (e.g., item 6, "I spend a lot of time doing things to look more athletic."). The Pressure subscale: Family indicates family members' pressure to meet the dominant sociocultural standards for appearance and consists of 4 items (11,12,13, and 14; e.g., item 12, "I feel pressure from family members to improve my appearance."). The 4-item (15, 16, 17, and 18) Pressures subscale: Peers demonstrates the extent to which a person from friends and peers feels pressured to meet social expectations of appearance (e.g., item 16, "I feel pressure from my peers to improve my appearance.").…”

“…Research suggests that exposure to idealized media images that emphasize Western values of appearance leads young women and men to body image concerns and eating pathology [3,[8][9][10]. Parents, siblings, and family might influence body image of the young women and men through appearance-related comments, appearance-related teasing, appearance-related comments, teasing, or even bullying [11,12]. Taken together, research shows that perceived pressures from media, family, and peers are associated with body dissatisfaction.…”