Associations between parent behavior and adolescent weight control.
OBJECTIVE
To evaluate associations between parent behaviors (i.e., parent weight change, self-monitoring of their behavior, and feeding practices and attitudes) and changes in adolescent BMI and weight following 16-weeks of behavioral weight control (BWC) intervention.


METHODS
Adolescents (N = 86) 13-16 years old and 30-90% overweight (M = 60.54%, SD = 15.10%) who completed BWC intervention and their parents. Adolescents were randomized to 1 of 2 interventions involving 16 consecutive weeks of active treatment with 4 biweekly maintenance sessions. Adolescent weight and BMI were measured at baseline and 16-weeks. Feeding practices were measured at baseline. Parent self-monitoring was measured during the intervention.


RESULTS
The only independently significant predictor of adolescent BMI change (p < .01) was parent BMI change. Greater parent self-monitoring (p < .01) predicted greater adolescent weight loss. Greater parent pressure to eat predicted less adolescent weight loss (p < .01).


CONCLUSIONS
Findings highlight the potential importance of parent weight-related behaviors and feeding practices in the context of adolescent BWC.
Department of Psychiatry, Rhode Island Hospital, Alpert Medical School of Brown University, 1, Hoppin Street, Providence, RI 02903, USA. asato@lifespan.org
Amy F
AF
Sato
Elissa
E
Jelalian
Chantelle N
CN
Hart
Elizabeth E
EE
Lloyd-Richardson
Robyn S
RS
Mehlenbeck
Meghan
M
Neill
Rena R
RR
Wing
D000293:Adolescent; D000294:Adolescent Behavior / Q000523:psychology*; D015992:Body Mass Index; D004038:Diet, Reducing; D004435:Eating / Q000523:psychology; D005247:Feeding Behavior / Q000523:psychology*; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D050177:Overweight / Q000523:psychology* / Q000628:therapy; D010287:Parent-Child Relations; D010290:Parents / Q000523:psychology*