Talk to Teens about Health, Not Weight, Say Researchers
Conversations with Teens about Weight Linked to Increased Risk of Unhealthy Eating Behaviors
June 24, 2013—Conversations between parents and adolescents that focus on weight and size are associated with an increased risk for unhealthy adolescent weight-control behaviors, according to a study published Online First by JAMA Pediatrics, a JAMA Network publication.
The study by University of Minnesota, Minneapolis, researchers also found that overweight or obese adolescents whose mothers or fathers engaged in conversations that were focused only on healthful eating behaviors were less likely to diet and use unhealthy weight-control behaviors (UWCBs). Adolescents whose fathers engaged in weight conversations were significantly more likely to engage in dieting and UWCBs than adolescents whose fathers did not.
"Because adolescence is a time when more youths engage in disordered eating behaviors, it is important for parents to understand what types of conversations may be helpful or harmful in regard to disordered eating behaviors and how to have these conversations with their adolescents," wrote Jerica M. Berge, Ph.D., M.P.H., L.M.F.T., of the University of Minnesota Medical School, and colleagues.
The study used data from two linked population-based studies and included surveys completed by adolescents and parents. The study's final sample consisted of 2,348 adolescents (average age, 14.4 years) and 3,528 parents.
Among overweight adolescents whose mothers and fathers engaged in healthful eating conversations compared with those whose parents did not engage in healthful eating conversations, there was a significantly lower prevalence of dieting (40.1 percent vs. 53.4 percent, respectively) and UWCBs (40.6 percent vs. 53.2 percent, respectively), according to the study results.
The results also indicate that weight conversations from one parent or from both parents were associated with a significantly higher prevalence of dieting relative to parents who engaged in only healthful eating conversations (35.2 percent and 37.1 percent vs. 21.2 percent, respectively).
"For parents who may wonder whether talking with their adolescent child about eating habits and weight is useful or detrimental, results from this study indicate that they may want to focus on discussing and promoting healthful eating behaviors rather than discussing weight and size, regardless of whether their child is nonoverweight or overweight," the authors conclude.
ARTICLE:
Berge JM, MacLehose R, Loth KA, Eisenberg M, Bucchianeri MM, Neumark-Sztainer D. "Parent Conversations About Healthful Eating and Weight: Associations With Adolescent Disordered Eating Behaviors." JAMA Pediatrics, 2013;():1-7. doi:10.1001/jamapediatrics.2013.78.
RELATED RESEARCH:
Berge JM, Jin SW, Hannan P, Neumark-Sztainer D. Structural and interpersonal characteristics of family meals: associations with adolescent body mass index and dietary patterns. J Acad Nutr Diet.2013;113(6):816-22.
Berge JM, Wall M, Larson N, Loth K, Neumark-Sztainer D. Family functioning: associations with weight status, eating behaviors and physical activity in adolescents. Journal of Adolescent Health. 2013;52(3):351-7.
Berge JM, Wickel K, Doherty WJ. The individual and combined influence of the "quality" and "quantity" of family meals on adult body mass index. Families, Systems & Health. 2012;30(4):344-51.
Eisenberg ME, Berge JM, Fulkerson JA, Neumark-Sztainer D. Associations between hurtful weight-related comments by family and significant other and the development of disordered eating behaviors in young adults. J Behav Med. 2012;35(5):500-8.
Berge JM, MacLehose R, Eisenberg ME, Laska MN, Neumark-Sztainer D. How significant is the 'significant other'? Associations between significant others' health behaviors and attitudes and young adults' health outcomes. Int J Behav Nutr Phys Act. 2012;9:35.
