Associations between weight talk exposure and unhealthy weight control behaviors among young adults: A person-centered approach to examining how much the source and type of weight talk matters

Adolescent experiences of weight-related communication: Sociodemographic differences and the role of parents

BACKGROUND

Weight-related conversations are common between adolescents and parents. However, there is limited understanding of how these conversations vary across sociodemographic groups, such as sex, sexual orientation, race/ethnicity, or parents' level of education. This study assessed the prevalence of weight-related communication among adolescents and parents across sociodemographic characteristics, and identified adolescents' preferred sources for these discussions.

METHODS

Quantitative data were collected through online surveys from two independent U.S.

SAMPLES

adolescents aged 10-17 years of age (N = 2032), and parents of children aged 10-17 years of age (N = 1936). Frequency and sources of weight-related communication were assessed. Sociodemographic factors were analysed for their associations with these communication patterns.

RESULTS

While few differences emerged based on race/ethnicity or grade level, significant variation was observed for sex, sexual orientation, and parental education. Girls, sexual minority youth, high school students, and those with college-educated parents were more likely to communicate about their own weight, whereas boys were more likely to comment on others' weight. Most adolescents preferred healthcare professionals (71%) and parents (69%) for these conversations, although sexual minority youth preferred mental health professionals considerably more than parents. Among parents, 77% discussed their child's weight, with fathers and Latinx parents engaging more frequently in these conversations, and Black parents engaging least frequently.

CONCLUSION

Weight-related communication is prevalent among adolescents and parents, with variation across sociodemographic characteristics. As healthcare professionals and parents were identified as the preferred sources for weight-related communication by adolescents across sociodemographic groups, it is important that paediatricians and parents are equipped to engage in these conversations without imparting stigma.

Do parents engage in weight- and health-focused conversations with their emerging adult children and are there cross-sectional associations with weight and well-being outcomes?

BACKGROUND

Research indicates harmful associations between parental weight-focused conversations and markers of pediatric health and well-being. However, little is known about the prevalence and consequences of parent conversations focused on weight or health behaviors (i.e., physical activity or nutrition) with emerging adult children.

METHODS

Data are from the 2018 follow-up survey of the population-based EAT 2010-2018 (Eating and Activity over Time) in cohort from Minneapolis-St. Paul, MN. Participants were emerging adults at follow-up with ages 18-26. Regression models adjusted for sociodemographic characteristics were conducted.

RESULTS

Over two-thirds (68%) of mothers and 44% of fathers engaged in weight-focused conversations with their emerging adult children; 25% of both parents reported engaging in conversations focused only on health behaviors; and 8% of mothers and 26% of fathers reported not engaging in either type of conversation. Health-focused conversations by both parents were associated with lower body mass index (BMI) and disordered eating behaviors, higher intake of fruit and vegetables, and psychosocial well-being in emerging adult children. Weight-focused conversations with both parents were associated with higher BMI and disordered eating behaviors in emerging adults. There were gender moderated associations of paternal conversations about weight and health with vegetable intake, binge eating, and depressive symptoms.

DISCUSSION

The high prevalence and negative health outcomes associated with weight-focused conversations coupled with the low prevalence and positive health outcomes associated with health-focused conversations by parents suggests the need for public health messaging and intervention development aimed at reducing parental weight talk with emerging adult children.

Raising Confident Girls: A pragmatic school-based trial of a body image and parenting program for mothers of adolescent girls

This study evaluated Raising Confident Girls (RCG), delivered to mothers of Year 8 students (mean age 12.8-years) who were receiving the classroom-based Dove Confident Me (DCM) program. RCG is an interactive, multi-session intervention designed to improve body image in mothers in order to enhance their capacity to parent and role model this to their daughters. A pragmatic non-randomised controlled trial involved delivery of the program to mothers (n = 69) over three, 2-hour seminars in evenings, compared with a comparison group (n = 51). The study took place at an independent all-girls secondary school in Australia. Multilevel mixed modelling analyses compared pre- and post-test scores on standardized scales. Mothers who participated in the program had significantly higher scores on primary outcome variables of body esteem and body appreciation compared to the comparison group at post-test. Further, participation significantly improved mother's knowledge, confidence, and skills for parenting, and improved role modeling of positive body image. Mothers were well engaged, with low attrition rates, and rated the program highly. The RCG program was effective and engaging for mothers, offering deeper insight into improving parental engagement in body image interventions delivered within the school context.

Reported Intergenerational Transmission of Parent Weight Talk and Links with Child Health and Wellbeing

OBJECTIVES

To examine if intergenerational transmission of parent weight talk occurs, the contextual factors prompting weight talk, and whether parent weight talk is associated with child weight, dietary intake, psychosocial outcomes, and food parenting practices.

STUDY DESIGN

Children aged 5-9 years and their families (n = 1307) from 6 racial and ethnic groups (African-American, Hispanic, Hmong, Native American, Somali/Ethiopian, White) were recruited for a longitudinal cohort study through primary care clinics in Minneapolis/St. Paul, Minnesota from 2016 through 2019. Parents filled out surveys at 2 time points, 18 months apart. Adjusted regression models examined associations of interest.

RESULTS

Intergenerational transmission of parent weight talk was observed. In addition, significant associations were found between parent engagement in weight talk and higher weight status and poorer psychosocial outcomes in children 18 months later. Parent engagement in weight talk was also associated with more restrictive food parenting practices 18 months later.

CONCLUSIONS

Parents' exposure to weight talk as children increased the likelihood of engaging in weight talk with their own children and had harmful associations over time with parent restrictive feeding practices, child weight, and psychosocial wellbeing in children. Health care providers may want to consider both modeling positive health-focused conversations and educating parents about the potential harmful and long-lasting consequences of engaging in weight talk with their children.

Family body culture, disordered eating and mental health among young adult females during COVID-19

Different family interactions related to body weight and shape may co-occur and represent a broader 'family body culture'. This may be important in the context of COVID-19 due to a heightened focus on body weight/shape, and many young adults living back with their families. This study aimed to, first, explore relationships between different family body-related interactions to assess the presence of a family body culture, and second, explore relationships between aspects of family body culture, disordered eating and mental health among young adult females during the COVID-19 pandemic. Participants were 233 females aged 18-25 years who completed measures of family body culture (family fat talk; family weight concern; family weight teasing), disordered eating, anxiety and depression. Results showed all aspects of family body culture were significantly, positively related. Engaging in fat talk with family members (self fat talk) was a key correlate of disordered eating, anxiety and depression. Family concern with weight was also significantly associated with disordered eating. Findings suggest that among some families there is a more problematic family body culture with a greater importance placed on body weight and shape through various body-related interactions. Additionally, findings highlight two key aspects of family body culture related to disordered eating and wellbeing among young adult females. Specifically, vocalising critical remarks about one's own body when with family and an environment that may indirectly communicate a high importance of body weight and shape (e.g., via dieting). These should be considered in future family interventions to support healthy eating behaviours.

An exploration of how adolescents experience and reason their parents' comments on their weight, shape, and eating

INTRODUCTION

Disordered eating among adolescents is of increasing concern given associated physical and mental health sequelae. Cognitions underlying disordered eating are formed in childhood and adolescence. Parents are a significant presence during this period, so it is critical to understand how they influence their adolescent's eating cognitions and behaviors.

METHODS

Qualitative analysis using interpretative phenomenological analysis (IPA) methodology was employed to consider the lived experiences of 10 Australian adolescents (14-19 years), 60% female, as they engaged with their parents in a range of weight, shape, and eating communications.

RESULTS

Our inductive IPA revealed three key themes representing adolescents' experiences and meaning-making: Parents as Influencers-adolescents acknowledged parents are influencers (objects) within a wider context of community and cultural norms (symbols) and can be protective for peer influence on body image ideals; Expression and Perception-the "what" (weight-talk as an object) and the "how" (objects as independent influences) of gendered parental communication related to health and fitness ideals and illustrated diverse interpretations of both verbal and non-verbal expression; and Fertile Soil and Maturity-the adolescent's characteristics and context influence perceptions of communication, a fear of deviating from norms, and an overarching focus on being "healthy" yet not always knowing what that was. Perception of bidirectional communication also offered valuable insights into potential dangers through family loyalty and in-group permissions.

CONCLUSIONS

Findings highlight implications for the nuanced influence of parental communication and illustrate the pivotal role of parents within the bioecosystem of adolescent development.

Negative family body talk and negative emotional eating among Chinese adolescent girls and young adult women: The role of body dissatisfaction and feminism consciousness

Negative emotional eating has been increasingly a prominent disordered eating and public health problem among young women, especially during COVID-19. Although previous studies have attempted to explain the relationship between body talk and negative emotional eating, limited studies focused on examining the potential mechanisms, especially the potential protective mechanism. Thus, the current study aimed to examine the relationship between negative family body talk (NFBT) and negative emotional eating, as well as its underlying mechanism - the mediating role of body dissatisfaction (BDIS) and the moderating role of feminism consciousness (FC). A cross-sectional study was employed among a sample of Chinese girls and young women (n = 813, M_age = 19.4 years) from a junior college in central China. Participants completed surveys assessing NFBT (Adapted Body Talk Scale), BDIS (Body Image State Scale), negative emotional eating (Dutch Eating Behavior Questionnaire), and FC (Synthesis Subscale from Feminist Identity Composite). A moderated mediation analysis was conducted. The results showed that: (1) after controlling for age and BMI, NFBT was positively associated with negative emotional eating, and BDIS could significantly mediate this relationship (mediating effect = 0.03, 95% CI [0.02, 0.06]); (2) FC significantly moderated both the direct relationship between NFBT and negative emotional eating and the relationship between NFBT and BDIS. Specifically, these two associations were not significant for participants with higher FC (+1SD above average). This study deepens our understanding of the relationship between NFBT and negative emotional eating, as well as the protective role of FC. If future studies demonstrate causal relationships, this evidence could point to a need for programs to prevent negative emotional eating in young women by increasing their level of feminism consciousness.

Associations between Parents' Body Weight/Shape Comments and Disordered Eating Amongst Adolescents over Time-A Longitudinal Study

Parents are key influencers of adolescents' attitudes on weight, shape, and eating, and make more positive than negative comments, with negative comments most impactful. This study examined prospective unique associations of parental positive and negative comments in a community sample of adolescents with paediatric psychosocial quality of life (PED-QoL), Eating Disorder Weight/Shape Cognitions (EDEQ-WS), BMI percentile, and Psychological Distress (K10) scales. Data were from 2056 adolescents from the EveryBODY study cohort. Multiple regressions were conducted for the impacts of parental positive and negative comments on four dependent variables at one year after controlling for their stage of adolescence (early, middle, late). Multiple imputation and bootstrapping were used for handling missing data and violations of normality. Results indicated that positive maternal comments on eating were associated with increased EDCs and better quality of life at one year. Paternal positive weight shape comments were associated with a decrease in psychological distress, but positive eating comments saw a decrease in quality of life. Findings highlight the nuances of parental comments and how these are perceived and interpreted, and could alert health care workers and family practitioners who have weight, shape, and eating conversations to be aware of the potential influence of their communication.

Family members and peers' negative and positive body talk: How they relate to adolescent girls' body talk and eating disorder attitudes

Research examining the interpersonal correlates of body talk has primarily focused on the negative consequences of perceiving fat talk on women's own body talk and eating behaviours; however, little is known about the correlates and effects of positive body talk. This study examined the associations between perceived family and peer negative and positive body talk and adolescent girls' body talk and eating disorder attitudes, and the mediating role of adolescents' fear of negative evaluation and self-compassion in these relationships. Influences of family members and peers were compared to examine the uniformity of these interpersonal processes. Adolescent girls (N = 331, M age = 15.7, SD = 1.0) completed a survey. Path analysis models suggested that in the peer and family models, perceived negative body talk was associated with more self-related negative talk through fear of negative evaluation and lower self-compassion, whereas perceived positive body talk was associated with more self-related positive talk through self-compassion. Additionally, adolescents' fear of negative evaluation and self-related negative talk were mediators between perceived negative body talk and eating disorder attitudes. Results suggest that negative and positive body talk are cultivated interpersonally by increasing evaluative concerns and decreasing self-compassion.