Parents of children with high weight and disordered eating: Commentary on Wilksch (2023).

Abstract

In Wilksch (International Journal of Eating Disorders, 2023), survey results from parents of youth with eating disorders (EDs) indicate that parents are often the first to detect their children's ED symptoms, and that they face barriers in accessing appropriate, timely treatment, and experience emotional and financial strain. Wilksch highlights gaps in research and practice, and identifies recommendations to mitigate them. We propose prioritizing similar recommendations for parents of children with higher weight (HW). As EDs and body size are often inextricably entwined, our recommendations involve consideration of both eating- and weight-related impacts. The fields of EDs and HW tend to work independently; as a result, disordered eating, HW, and the convergence of the two, are often overlooked or unaddressed in children. We recommend the prioritization of research, practice, training, and advocacy for youth with HW and their parents. We propose evidence-based ED screening in youth across the weight spectrum, developing and testing therapies to address both EDs and HW concurrently, training more providers to deliver established interventions, reducing weight-based stigmatization and parental blame, and advocating for policies that protect children with HW and their families. Finally, we urge policymakers to ensure financial coverage of early intervention to prevent adverse eating and weight-related outcomes in youth.