Hannah J White1, Emma Haycraft1, Sloane Madden2, Paul Rhodes2, Jane Miskovic-Wheatley2, Andrew Wallis2, Michael Kohn2, Caroline Meyer3,4. 1. Loughborough University Centre for Research into Eating Disorders, Loughborough University, Loughborough, UK. 2. Eating Disorder Service, The Children's Hospital, Westmead, Sydney, Australia. 3. WMG University of Warwick, Coventry, UK. 4. University Hospitals Coventry and Warwickshire NHS Trust, Coventry, UK.
Abstract
OBJECTIVE: Examine relationships between parental mealtime strategies used in the family meal session of family-based treatment (FBT) and adolescent outcomes at EOT (session 20). METHOD: Eighteen families with an adolescent receiving FBT-AN participated. Parental strategies during videoed family meals were assessed using a family mealtime coding system. Change scores were calculated for both adolescent %EBW and EDE scores. RESULTS: Increased use of parental direct and non-direct eating prompts during the family meal was associated with greater adolescent weight gain at EOT. Use of parental mealtime strategies was not associated with any significant change in adolescent eating psychopathology at EOT. DISCUSSION: Parental verbal eating prompts during the family meal may be effective in promoting short-term weight gain. During the family meal session, parents should be encouraged to maintain a direct focus on their adolescent child's eating behaviour which may assist their child with food consumption and potential weight gain. Further research examining food-based interactions among parents and their adolescent child with AN is needed.
OBJECTIVE: Examine relationships between parental mealtime strategies used in the family meal session of family-based treatment (FBT) and adolescent outcomes at EOT (session 20). METHOD: Eighteen families with an adolescent receiving FBT-AN participated. Parental strategies during videoed family meals were assessed using a family mealtime coding system. Change scores were calculated for both adolescent %EBW and EDE scores. RESULTS: Increased use of parental direct and non-direct eating prompts during the family meal was associated with greater adolescent weight gain at EOT. Use of parental mealtime strategies was not associated with any significant change in adolescent eating psychopathology at EOT. DISCUSSION: Parental verbal eating prompts during the family meal may be effective in promoting short-term weight gain. During the family meal session, parents should be encouraged to maintain a direct focus on their adolescent child's eating behaviour which may assist their child with food consumption and potential weight gain. Further research examining food-based interactions among parents and their adolescent child with AN is needed.