Adult obesity and functioning in the family of origin

Current Family Functioning and Youth Cardiometabolic Health in the SOL Youth Study

BACKGROUND

Family functioning may impact children's cardiometabolic health; however, few studies have examined multiple cardiometabolic markers among a diverse racial/ethnic cohort. The relationship between child- and caregiver-reported family functioning and the cardiometabolic health of Hispanic/Latino youth was examined.

METHOD

Data were from the Hispanic Community Children's Health Study/Study of Latino Youth (SOL Youth) (2012-2014), a population-based cohort study of children and adolescents whose parents participated in the HCHS/SOL (2008-2011). The relationship between youth- and caregiver-rated family functioning, and concordance of ratings is modeled, utilizing the general functioning subscale of the McMaster Family Assessment Device with youth objective cardiometabolic health markers (obesity, central adiposity, prediabetes/diabetes, prehypertension/hypertension, triglycerides, HDL cholesterol) adjusting for sociodemographic factors.

RESULTS

Among boys, child/caregiver concordant ineffective family functioning rating was associated with higher cumulative cardiometabolic risk (adjusted B (95% CI): 0.30 (0.04, 0.56)), but no association was observed among girls (adjusted B (95% CI): 0.04 (-0.13, 0.21)). Among girls, ineffective child rating/effective caregiver rating was associated with higher cumulative cardiometabolic risk (adjusted B (95% CI): 0.27 (0.06, 0.48)), but no association was observed among boys (adjusted B (95% CI): 0.02 (-0.23, 0.27).

CONCLUSION

Findings suggest that family functioning among this Hispanic/Latino population may influence cardiometabolic risk among youth. Observed differences in the associations by youth sex and concordant/discordant reports of family functioning suggest interventions at the family level, targeting both caregivers and youth, that consider differential sex effects are warranted.

Relationships of family conflict, cohesion, and chaos in the home environment on maternal and child food-related behaviours

This study examined how food-related behaviours differed in mothers and their preschool children by levels of family functioning (cohesion and conflict) and household disorganization (chaos). A nationally representative sample of mothers of preschoolers completed an online survey assessing food-related behaviours of themselves and their children. Maternal and child diet, eating behaviours, and health status; household availability of fruits/vegetables, salty/fatty snacks, and sugar-sweetened beverages; family mealtime atmosphere; and family conflict, cohesion, and household chaos were assessed with valid, reliable scales. Cluster analyses assigned families into low, middle, and high conflict, cohesion, and chaos groups. Participants (n = 550) were 72% White, and 82% had some post-secondary education. Regression analysis examining the association of cluster grouping levels on diet-related behaviour measures revealed that positive home environments (i.e., low family conflict, high family cohesion, and low household chaos) were associated with healthier food-related behaviours (e.g., increased fruits/vegetables intake), whereas negative home environments (i.e., high family conflict, low family cohesion, and high household chaos) were associated with unhealthy food-related behaviours (e.g., greater % total calories from fat) even after controlling for sociodemographic and related behavioural factors. Findings suggest family functioning and household chaos are associated with food-related behaviours. This frequently overlooked component of family interaction may affect intervention outcomes and objectives of educational and interventional initiatives.

The Relationship of Parental Mental Health and Dietary Pattern With Adolescent Mental Health

Background

Today, ensuring people’s health and well-being has become a concern for societies. Health status results from an interaction of an individuals’ various psychological, social, and physical aspects.

Objectives

This study aims to investigate the relationship of parental mental health and dietary pattern with adolescent mental health.

Patients and Methods

In this study, 250 high school students in Shiraz were selected using random cluster sampling. The samples were analyzed using the Food Frequency Questionnaire (FFQ) and the General Health Questionnaire (GHQ-28).

Results

According to the findings, parental mental health explains 22% of the variance in children’s mental health, so that in simultaneous regression, physical dimensions, anxiety, social functioning, and depression predicted 13%, 24%, 11%, and 24% of the variance of criterion variables, respectively. No significant relationship was observed between dietary pattern and adolescent mental health dimensions. There was a significant negative relationship only between depression and vegetable intake. Moreover, fruit (r = 0.15, P < 0.05) and vegetable (r = 0.16, P < 0.05) intake had a significant relationship with parental mental health dimensions.

Conclusions

Parents’ mental health and their psychological characteristics can be related to children’s mental health and affect their dietary intake patterns.

Unidos em torno da mesa: a dinâmica familiar na obesidade

A partir da Abordagem Sistêmica da Família, é apresentado o estudo de caso de um paciente com obesidade grave que está se preparando para realizar a cirurgia de redução de estômago em um hospital público de Brasília-DF. A coleta dos dados foi realizada em duas visitas domiciliares para construção do genograma familiar, colagem feita pela família e realização de duas tarefas. O estudo demonstra a forte ligação entre alimentação e pertencimento familiar, além de reforçar aspectos da dinâmica familiar de sistemas com membros obesos descritos na literatura, como: fronteiras internas difusas e externas rígidas; poucas atividades de lazer; ênfase à lealdade familiar; obesidade vista como único problema familiar e evitação de conflitos. Por fim, as autoras sugerem a ampliação à inclusão da terapia familiar no pré e pós-operatório de pacientes com obesidade grave.

Observation of family functioning at mealtime: a comparison between families of children with and without overweight

OBJECTIVE

To examine differences between families of children with and without overweight on parental control and support.

METHODS

Twenty-eight families with an overweight child and a control group of 28 families with a normal weight child (age range 7-13 years) participated in the study. Observations and self-reports of mealtime family functioning were administered and analyzed.

RESULTS

Parents of children with overweight reported to exert more control on their children's feeding behavior and an equal amount of parental support in comparison with parents of children without overweight. However, observations at mealtime indicated that in families with an overweight child, maladaptive control strategies were twice as prevalent, and less parental support was displayed.

CONCLUSIONS

Self-reports and observations provide complementary information on how parents interact with their overweight children. Family-based treatment programs should include discussions on the adequate amount of parental control and support.

The association of parental characteristics and psychological problems in obese youngsters

OBJECTIVE

The aim of the present study was to examine to what extent parental psychological characteristics and parental behavior are related to psychological problems in obese youngsters.

RESEARCH METHODS

Data were collected from 196 families having an overweight youngster (range 10-16 years old) (mean body mass index (BMI)=31.2; s.d.=5.3) seeking weight-loss treatment and compared with data from normal weight samples. Behavior problems were measured using the Child Behavior Checklist; the Child version of the Eating Disorder Examination was used to assess eating disorder psychopathology. Parental psychopathology was measured using the Symptom Checklist-90; parenting behavior was assessed with the Ghent Parental Behavior Scale.

RESULTS

Parental psychopathology was prevalent in 59.6% of mothers and 35.7% of fathers. Youngsters exceeding the cutoff for problem behavior ranged between 41.4 and 53.1%. Children's problem behavior was most associated with psychopathology in the mother (r=0.40 for Internalizing and r=0.37 for Externalizing; both P<0.01). The research findings further revealed that the effects of maternal psychopathology were partly mediated by a specific form of parenting behavior, namely Inconsistent discipline, although the effect was stronger for Externalizing behavior (explained variance: 10%) than for Internalizing behavior (explained variance: 4%). No evidence was found for a mediator effect from parenting behavior on the eating disorder symptoms of the obese youngsters. However, several direct relations emerged, suggesting a negative association between a child's eating disorder symptoms and Positive parenting behavior by the mother (r= -0.20 for Eating concern; r= -0.18 for Restraint eating; r= -0.16 for Shape concern; all P<0.05) as well as by the father (r= -0.25 for Eating concern; r= -0.25 for Weight concern; both P<0.01; r= -0.21 for Shape concern; P<0.05).

DISCUSSION

Parental characteristics were associated with psychological problems in obese youngsters, not only in a direct way but also indirectly. The effects were partly mediated by a particular ineffective parenting style, namely inconsistent discipline on the part of the mother. Pediatric obesity treatments should focus more on parenting behaviors and parental characteristics.

Psychosocial characteristics of obese children/youngsters and their families: implications for preventive and curative interventions

A profile will be given of the psychosocial characteristics of obese children and youngsters, as well as those of their families. Then several attempts of (particularly) preventive interventions will be sketched. Differences found between clinical and non-clinical groups of obese children and youngsters do not permit generalized statements regarding specific psychosocial characteristics. Just as little as there exist a simple and unequivocal image of family functioning with these children. There are great differences between the psychological assumptions and the biological concepts about obesity. Whereas, biological concepts are relevant for the whole obese population, psychosocial characteristics seems to hold mainly for the clinical group of obese persons. The gap between clinical versus non-clinical as well as curative versus preventive approaches will be explained. There are remarkable differences between curative versus preventive intervention goals in terms of the extent to which they focus on life style habits or psychosocial (dys)functioning. Where prevention strategies focus more on enhancing physical activities, curative interventions focus more on changing eating behavior patterns and (depending on chronicity and seriousness of obesity) modifying psychosocial dysfunctioning.

Teasing history, onset of obesity, current eating disorder psychopathology, body dissatisfaction, and psychological functioning in binge eating disorder

OBJECTIVE

The primary goal of this study was to examine associations among teasing history, onset of obesity, current eating disorder psychopathology, body dissatisfaction, and psychological functioning in women with Binge Eating Disorder (BED).

RESEARCH METHODS AND PROCEDURES

Subjects were 115 female adults who met DSM-IV criteria for BED. Measurements assessing teasing history (general appearance [GAT] and weight and size [WST] teasing), current eating disorder psychopathology (binge frequency, eating restraint, and concerns regarding eating, shape, and weight), body dissatisfaction, and psychological functioning (depression and self-esteem) were obtained.

RESULTS

History of GAT, but not WST, was associated with current weight concerns and body dissatisfaction, whereas both GAT and WST were significantly associated with current psychological functioning. Patients with earlier onset of obesity reported more WST than patients with later onset of obesity, but the groups did not differ significantly in GAT, current eating disorder psychopathology, body dissatisfaction. or psychological functioning. Obese women reported more WST than non-obese women, but no differences in GAT or the other outcome variables were observed. Higher frequency of GAT was associated with greater binge frequency in obese women, and with greater eating restraint in non-obese women.

DISCUSSION

Although physical appearance teasing history is not associated with variability in most eating disorder psychopathology, it is associated with related functioning, most notably body dissatisfaction, depression, and self-esteem. Our findings also suggest that the age of onset of obesity and current body mass index status in isolation are not associated with eating psychopathology or associated psychological functioning in adult patients with BED.