Poster Presentation ANZOS-Breakthrough Discoveries Joint Annual Scientific Meeting 2018

A systematic research review of associations between maternal eating disorders and parent-child feeding interactions (#203)

Heidi Bergmeier 1 , Heather Morris 1 , Lauren Bruce 1 , Helen Skouteris 1
  1. Monash Centre for Health Research and Implementation (MCHRI), Clayton, VIC, Australia

Evidence suggests both parent-child mealtime interactions and relationship quality play an important role in shaping children’s eating and weight-related behaviours1,2. Mothers with eating disorders (ED) specifically report finding mealtimes challenging, with research showing a link between parental eating psychopathology and feeding practices implicated in the development of childhood obesity3. However, studies have largely focused on parent-level factors only. Therefore the aim of this systematic review was to investigate how maternal EDs influence dyadic parent-child interactions, child weight and eating.

We systematically searched English-language articles published in peer-reviewed journals between January 2008 and January 2018. Studies assessing associations between maternal eating disorders (diagnosis, history or symptomatology) and parent-child feeding interactions of children aged 0-18 years were included in our review.

Results: 12 studies met the inclusion criteria; of these 4 were longitudinal. Children included in the studies were aged 0-6 years. Maternal EDs were assessed via self report (11 studies) and interview (1 study). Most studies implemented unidirectional self-report measures of child feeding practices. Of the 4 observational child feeding assessment tools used, 3 captured the quality of dyadic parent-child feeding interactions. Results varied according to ED, but overall findings showed maternal EDs were associated with higher use of restrictive feeding practices and poorer quality of parent-child feeding interactions (i.e., distressing; less sensitive; unattuned; negative emotional climate). Maternal EDs were associated with problematic child eating behaviours (i.e., emotional overeating; binge eating; disordered eating) but not directly with child BMI.

The findings of this review suggest mothers with histories of EDs, or current symptomology, and their children may experience poorer quality mealtime interactions associated with greater obesity risk. Future research should implement consistent and thorough measures of dyadic relationship quality and child obesity risk outcomes.

  1. Anderson, S. E., Gooze, R., Lemeshow, S., & Whitaker, R. C. (2012). Quality of Early Maternal-Child Relationship and Risk of Adolescent Obesity. Pediatrics, 129(1), 132-140.
  2. Blewitt, C., Bergmeier, H., Macdonald, J., Olsson, C., & Skouteris, H. (2016). Associations between Parent-Child Relationship Quality and Obesogenic Risk in Adolescence: A Systematic Review of Recent Literature. Obesity Reviews, 17(7), 612-622.
  3. McPhie S, Skouteris H, Daniels L, Jansen E. Maternal correlates of maternal feeding practices: a systematic review. Matern Child Nutr 2014;10:18–43