Leah M Lessard1, Rebecca M Puhl2, Nicole Larson3, Melissa Simone4, Marla E Eisenberg5, Dianne Neumark-Sztainer3. 1. Rudd Center for Food Policy and Obesity, University of Connecticut, Hartford, Connecticut. Electronic address: leah.lessard@uconn.edu. 2. Rudd Center for Food Policy and Obesity, University of Connecticut, Hartford, Connecticut; Department of Human Development and Family Sciences, University of Connecticut, Storrs, Connecticut. 3. Division of Epidemiology and Community Health, University of Minnesota School of Public Health, Minneapolis, Minnesota. 4. Department of Psychiatry and Behavioral Sciences, University of Minnesota, Minneapolis, Minnesota. 5. Department of Pediatrics, University of Minnesota, Minneapolis, Minnesota.
Abstract
PURPOSE: Weight teasing from family members is common during adolescence. However, little is known about parental factors that increase adolescents' risk for family weight teasing and its adverse health sequelae. Using multi-informant data from adolescents, mothers and fathers, the current longitudinal study examined how parental concerns about their child's weight and their own weight contribute to family weight teasing in adolescence and its long-term health consequences. METHODS: Data were collected in the population-based Project EAT 2010-2018 (Eating and Activity over Time) study, following a longitudinal cohort of young people (N = 2,793). Parental weight concerns for their adolescent and themselves were reported by mothers (N = 2,298) and fathers (N = 1,409) at baseline and examined as a predictor of family weight teasing in adolescence as well as a moderator of family weight teasing effects on health eight years later. RESULTS: Mothers' and fathers' concerns about their child's weight, as well as mothers' dieting frequency, increased the likelihood of adolescents experiencing family weight teasing. Longitudinal analyses revealed that adolescents teased about their weight by family had higher levels of stress (β = .21, 95% confidence interval [CI] = .09-.33) and substance use (β = .16, 95% CI = .04-.28), and lower self-esteem (β = -.16, 95% CI = -.28 to -.05) in young adulthood. CONCLUSIONS: Findings highlight parent weight concern, particularly concern for their child's weight, as a risk factor for family weight teasing. These findings underscore the importance of encouraging parental attention to health, rather than weight, in family-based treatment and public health initiatives.
PURPOSE: Weight teasing from family members is common during adolescence. However, little is known about parental factors that increase adolescents' risk for family weight teasing and its adverse health sequelae. Using multi-informant data from adolescents, mothers and fathers, the current longitudinal study examined how parental concerns about their child's weight and their own weight contribute to family weight teasing in adolescence and its long-term health consequences. METHODS: Data were collected in the population-based Project EAT 2010-2018 (Eating and Activity over Time) study, following a longitudinal cohort of young people (N = 2,793). Parental weight concerns for their adolescent and themselves were reported by mothers (N = 2,298) and fathers (N = 1,409) at baseline and examined as a predictor of family weight teasing in adolescence as well as a moderator of family weight teasing effects on health eight years later. RESULTS: Mothers' and fathers' concerns about their child's weight, as well as mothers' dieting frequency, increased the likelihood of adolescents experiencing family weight teasing. Longitudinal analyses revealed that adolescents teased about their weight by family had higher levels of stress (β = .21, 95% confidence interval [CI] = .09-.33) and substance use (β = .16, 95% CI = .04-.28), and lower self-esteem (β = -.16, 95% CI = -.28 to -.05) in young adulthood. CONCLUSIONS: Findings highlight parent weight concern, particularly concern for their child's weight, as a risk factor for family weight teasing. These findings underscore the importance of encouraging parental attention to health, rather than weight, in family-based treatment and public health initiatives.
Authors: Harsohena Kaur; Chaoyang Li; Niaman Nazir; Won S Choi; Ken Resnicow; Leann L Birch; Jasjit S Ahluwalia Journal: Appetite Date: 2006-04-19 Impact factor: 3.868
Authors: Rebecca M Puhl; Melanie M Wall; Chen Chen; S Bryn Austin; Marla E Eisenberg; Dianne Neumark-Sztainer Journal: Prev Med Date: 2017-04-24 Impact factor: 4.018