Abstract
BACKGROUND: Although previous cross-sectional research has revealed potential harmful outcomes associated with parent encouragement to diet, it is unclear whether these effects are long lasting and whether they are transmitted to the next generation. The main aim of the current study was to examine longitudinal associations between exposure to parent encouragement to diet in adolescence and weight-related and emotional health outcomes in adulthood and to examine whether intergenerational transmission of encouragement to diet occurs. METHODS: This is a longitudinal, population-based study (ie, Project Eating and Activity in Teens and Young Adults) of socioeconomically and racially and/or ethnically diverse adolescents managed into adulthood and/or parenthood (n = 556; mean age = 31.4; 64.6% female). Surveys and anthropometrics were completed at school by adolescents in 1998-1999 and surveys were completed online in 2015-2016 by young adults. RESULTS: Experiencing parent encouragement to diet as an adolescent was significantly associated with a higher risk of overweight or obesity, dieting, binge eating, engaging in unhealthy weight control behaviors, and lower body satisfaction 15 years later as a parent, after adjusting for sociodemographics and baseline measures of the outcomes (P < .05). Additionally, intergenerational transmission of encouragement to diet occurred and resulted in parents being more likely to report other weight-focused communication in the home environment. CONCLUSIONS: Exposure to parent encouragement to diet as an adolescent had long-term harmful associations with weight-related and emotional health outcomes in parenthood and was transmitted to the next generation. It may be important for health care providers to educate parents about the potential harmful and long-lasting consequences of engaging in encouragement to diet with their children.
| Original language | English (US) |
|---|---|
| Article number | e20172955 |
| Journal | Pediatrics |
| Volume | 141 |
| Issue number | 4 |
| DOIs | |
| State | Published - Apr 2018 |
Bibliographical note
Funding Information:is supported by grant T32DK083250 from the National Institute of Diabetes and Digestive and Kidney Diseases (PI: Dr Jeffery). Dr Miller is supported by grant T32CA163184 from the National Cancer Institute (PI: Dr Allen). The content is solely the responsibility of the authors and does not necessarily represent the official views of the National Heart, Lung and Blood Institute, National Cancer Institute, or the National Institutes of Health. Funded by the National Institutes of Health (NIH).
Funding Information:
FundinG: Supported by grant R01HL116892 (principal investigator [PI]: Dr Neumark-Sztainer) from the National Heart, Lung, and Blood Institute. Dr Winkler
Publisher Copyright:
© 2018 by the American Academy of Pediatrics.
