Characteristics Associated with Risk and Protective Behaviors Among Children of Parents on Obesity Management...

To determine child and parent characteristics associated with protective and risk factors of obesity and eating disorders among children of parents on an obesity management medication (OMM).

Patients (N = 211; 80% mothers; 89% White) prescribed an OMM and identified as a parent at a University Medical Center were invited to participate in a survey about five parent-reported protective [child healthy weight control practices (WCPs), family meals] and risk (child unhealthy WCPs, child witnessing parental fat-talk, child experiencing parental restrictive feeding) behaviors. Regression models determined association between child (age, sex, weight status, weight concern) and parent (modeling of healthy and unhealthy WCPs) characteristics with the five protective and risk factors.

For protective factors, older children (OR: 1.16; P = .002) and children with overweight (OR: 4.62; P = .001) were more likely to use healthy WCPs. Younger children were more likely to eat ≥1 family meal per day (OR: 0.86; P = .031). For risk factors, parents who modeled a higher number of unhealthy WCPs were more likely to have children who used unhealthy WCPs (OR: 1.56; P < .001). Children with weight concern were more likely to use unhealthy WCPs (OR: 8.55; P < .001), witness parental fat-talk (OR: 3.00; P = .002), and experience parental restrictive feeding (B = 0.30; P < .001). Younger children were more likely to experience parental restrictive feeding (B = -0.32; P < .001).

Child weight concern and parental modeling of unhealthy WCPs were associated with risk factors for obesity and eating disorders. Future work should discern if risks are unique to children of parents taking OMMs compared to children of parents with obesity.