Family Meal Practices and Weight Talk Between Adult Weight Management and Weight Loss Surgery Patients and Their Children

Abstract

ObjectiveTo identify predictors associated with specific family meal practices and weight talk among patients participating in weight management programs (WMPs) and weight loss surgery (WLS) and their children. DesignCross-sectional survey. SettingTwo US weight management centers. Participants259 patients (aged ≥ 18 years) in either WMP (n = 101) or WLS (n = 158) and residing with a child (aged 2–18 years) Main Outcome Measure(s)Dependent variables: family meal practices (Project EAT) and weight talk (investigator-created). Covariates: family communication (Family Communication Scale), family discouragement for making eating habit change (Social Support for Eating Habits Survey), child age, sex, and perceived weight status, and WMP or WLS participation. AnalysisBinomial and ordinal regression models determined the odds of engaging in specific family meal practices and weight talk, including covariates. ResultsPatients had increased odds of engaging in family dinners if they reported lower family discouragement (P = .003) and had younger children (P < .001), and increased odds of engaging in family breakfast if they had higher family communication (P = .002) and younger children (P = .020). Patients had increased odds of talking about their child's weight if their child was perceived to have an overweight/obese weight status (P < .001). Patients with older children had increased odds of talking about their weight with their child (P = .021). Conclusions and ImplicationsAdditional research assessing the family meal practices and weight talk in the families of adults pursuing weight loss could yield important evidence that could lead to improved patient outcomes, and safely promote healthy behaviors and prevention of obesity in children.