Abstract P209: Like Parent, Like Child? Examining Associations Among Parent And Emerging Adult Intuitive Eating

Abstract

Introduction: Intuitive eating (IE) is an approach that emphasizes relying on hunger and satiety cues to guide eating. Accumulating data highlight positive associations between IE and mental health and health-promoting behaviors, and some preliminary data suggest increasing IE might benefit cardiometabolic markers. However, little is known about what helps individuals eat intuitively. Although caregivers’ own eating patterns often shape those of their children, no known research to date has explored familial associations of IE. Elucidating factors that foster health-promoting behaviors is crucial to inform interventions that reduce cardiovascular disease. Objective: This cross-sectional, population-based study examined the concordance of IE between caregivers and their emerging adult children, and associations between concordance and sociodemographic characteristics and weight perceptions. Method: Data came from the second wave of the population-based, longitudinal EAT and F-EAT 2010-2018 studies. The analytic sample included 891 emerging adults (53.6% female; M age=22.0) and their primary caregiver who were diverse across race/ethnicity and socioeconomic status (SES). Caregivers and emerging adults were grouped into dyads: (1) neither are intuitive eaters ( n =194); (2) emerging adult only is an intuitive eater ( n =203); (3) caregiver only is an intuitive eater ( n =218); and, (4) both are intuitive eaters ( n =289). Chi-square analyses and independent samples t -tests examined differences across dyads. Results: Caregiver and emerging adult IE were weakly correlated ( r =.07, p =.03). Dyads differed across race/ethnicity, SES, and weight perceptions. Concordant dyads who ate intuitively were more likely to be high SES and perceive their weight as “about right,” whereas concordant dyads who did not eat intuitively were more likely to be low SES and perceive their weight as “overweight.” Asian emerging adults were more likely to belong to concordant non-intuitive eater dyads, whereas White and Black emerging adults were more likely to belong to concordant intuitive eater dyads. Discordant dyads were generally distinguished by weight perceptions. Emerging adults who shared their caregiver’s perception that their weight was “overweight” were less likely to be intuitive eaters (even if their caregivers were). Discussion: In this sample, weight perceptions were strongly related to IE, and IE differed across race and SES. Individuals who perceived their own weight as “overweight” were less likely to be intuitive eaters, as well as emerging adults whose caregivers perceived their weight as “overweight.” Rather than motivate healthy eating, perceiving one’s weight as “overweight” might actually hinder IE. Longitudinal research is needed to evaluate the temporality of associations, and future work is needed to explore the role of IE in cardiovascular disease risk.