Links between mothers’ and children's disinhibited eating and children's adiposity

Abstract

Few studies have examined relationships between parents’ and children's specific disinhibited eating behaviors. We investigated links among mothers’ and children's binge/loss of control eating, eating in the absence of hunger, and children's adiposity in 305 non-treatment-seeking youth, aged 8–17 years (13.62 ± 2.65 years; 49.8% female) and their mothers. Youths’ loss of control eating and eating in the absence of hunger were assessed by interview and self-report questionnaire. Children's adiposity was assessed with BMI- z and air displacement plethysmography. Maternal binge eating, eating in the absence of hunger and highest, non-pregnant BMI were self-reported. In structural equation models controlling for mothers’ BMI, mothers’ binge eating related to children's loss of control eating, and mothers’ eating in the absence of hunger related to children's eating in the absence of hunger. Mothers’ binge eating and children's eating in the absence of hunger were unrelated, as were mothers’ eating in the absence of hunger and children's loss of control. Further, mothers’ binge eating was indirectly related to children's adiposity through children's loss of control eating. Likewise, mothers’ eating in the absence of hunger indirectly related to children's adiposity through children's eating in the absence of hunger. Mothers and children share similar, specific disinhibited eating styles.