Assessment and reduction of food stealing in Prader-Willi children

A common behavior problem among Prader-Willi children is inappropriate foraging for food. Theft and subsequent consumption often go undetected and contribute to morbid obesity in many of these individuals. In this study an observational methodology was developed to assess food stealing in two children with Prader-Willi syndrome. The children were observed to steal food at a high rates under baseline conditions in three hospital settings. Subsequent treatment, based on differential reinforcement of other behavior (DRO), consisted of reinforcement of nonstealing at the end of progressively lengthening intervals, and was implemented in multiple baseline fashion across both subjects and settings. Results showed that both subjects' stealing rapidly ceased in treated settings, but failed to show generalization to untreated settings. Follow-up data collected in one setting after termination of active intervention reflected continued nonoccurrence of food stealing, although long-term weight data were not encouraging. Results are discussed in terms of their methodological contribution to the study and treatment of Prader-Willi syndrome.