Parent Conversations About Healthful Eating and Weight

Abstract

Objective The prevalence of weight-related problems in adolescents is high. Parents of adolescents may wonder whether talking about eating habits and weight is useful or detrimental. This study aimed to examine the associations between parent conversations about healthful eating and weight and adolescent disordered eating behaviors. Design Cross-sectional analysis using data from two linked multi-level population-based studies. Setting Anthropometric assessments and surveys completed at school by adolescents and surveys completed at home by parents in 2009–2010. Participants Socio-economically and racially/ethnically diverse sample (81% ethnic minority; 60% low income) of adolescents from EAT (Eating and Activity in Teens) 2010 (n = 2,793, mean age=14.4) and parents from F-EAT (Families and Eating and Activity in Teens) (n = 3,709, mean age = 42.3). Main Exposure Parent conversations about healthful eating and weight/size. Outcome Measures Adolescent dieting, unhealthy weight control behaviors, and binge eating. Results Mothers and fathers who engaged in weight-related conversations had adolescents who were more likely to diet, use unhealthy weight control behaviors, and engage in binge eating. Overweight/obese adolescents whose mothers engaged in conversations that were focused only on healthful eating behaviors were less likely to diet and use unhealthy weight control behaviors. Additionally, sub-analyses with adolescents with data from two parents showed that when both parents engaged in healthful eating conversations, their overweight/obese adolescent children were less likely to diet and use unhealthy weight control behaviors. Conclusion Parent conversations focused on weight/size are associated with increased risk for adolescent disordered eating behaviors, whereas conversations focused on healthful eating are protective against disordered eating behaviors.

Parent-adolescent conversations about eating, physical activity and weight: prevalence across sociodemographic characteristics and associations with adolescent weight and weight-related behaviors

“…EAT 2010 (Eating and Activity in Teens) was designed to examine dietary intake, physical activity, weight control behaviors, weight status and factors associated with these outcomes in adolescents (Neumark-sztainer, et al, 2003; Berge et al, 2013; Berge, et al, 2012). Project F-EAT (Families and Eating and Activity Among Teens) was designed to examine factors within the family and home environment of potential relevance to adolescents’ weight and weight-related behaviors (Berge et al, 2012).…”

“…Our final sample size consisted of 3,528 parents and 2,348 adolescents. Approximately half (45%) of the analytic sample had data from two parents (Berge et al, 2013). …”

“…Limited previous research has examined parent-adolescent weight and weight-related conversations (Berge et al, 2013). Three studies found that when parent-adolescent conversations were focused on weight, or labeling of the adolescent as “obese”, rather than on healthful eating patterns, adolescents exhibited more disordered eating behaviors (e.g., dieting, binging, skipping meals/fasting, purging, taking laxatives) (Berge, et al, 2013), psychological distress (e.g., depressive symptoms, anxiety) (Mustillo, et al, 2013), or higher BMI (Hunger & Tomiyama, 2014) as compared with adolescents whose parents did not engage in parent-adolescent weight-related conversations.…”

“…Three studies found that when parent-adolescent conversations were focused on weight, or labeling of the adolescent as “obese”, rather than on healthful eating patterns, adolescents exhibited more disordered eating behaviors (e.g., dieting, binging, skipping meals/fasting, purging, taking laxatives) (Berge, et al, 2013), psychological distress (e.g., depressive symptoms, anxiety) (Mustillo, et al, 2013), or higher BMI (Hunger & Tomiyama, 2014) as compared with adolescents whose parents did not engage in parent-adolescent weight-related conversations. Other prior studies have not focused on parent-adolescent conversations about healthful eating, physical activity or weight per se, but have examined parental support for adolescent physical activity and healthful food choices, and encouragement for dieting.…”

“…Furthermore, the relationship between these parent-adolescent conversations and adolescent BMI and health behaviors in a racial/ethnically and sociodemographically diverse sample will be examined. Additionally, both parents are included in analyses to identify whether parent-adolescent conversations by both parents are more strongly associated with youth health behaviors as compared to parent-adolescent conversations from only one parent, which has not been done in prior research (Berge et al, 2013). Such results will help public health researchers and healthcare providers know which individuals and/or dyads to target to increase effectiveness of prevention efforts.…”