Overt restrictive feeding for weight management: a preliminary retrospective examination of childhood experiences
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BRIEF REPORT
Overt restrictive feeding for weight management: a preliminary retrospective examination of childhood experiences Isabel Brun1 · Shelly Russell‑Mayhew1 · Kirsten Klingle1 · Sarah Nutter1 Received: 20 May 2020 / Accepted: 28 September 2020 © Springer Nature Switzerland AG 2020
Abstract Purpose Overt restrictive feeding practices (ORFP), aimed at promoting weight loss or preventing weight gain for children, are often implemented by parents with good intentions. Despite findings that indicate unintended weight and behavioral outcomes little is known about how parental ORFP are experienced by those who are subjected to them. Thus, we explored retrospective accounts of meaning making related to experiences of such practices during childhood. Methods Six young adult females who experienced ORFP were interviewed. Data were analyzed using constructivist grounded theory. Results Participants retrospectively associated experiencing ORFP with a meaning making process that involves: (a) perceiving parental motivation for ORFP and receiving messages about weight, (b) internalizing parental messages about weight, and (c) viewing self-worth as contingent on weight. Conclusion Preliminary findings suggest that parents may be reinforcing weight stigma in their children through ORFP. Results add evidence against the use of parental ORFP for childhood weight management. Level of evidence Level V, Descriptive study. Keywords Parental restrictive feeding practices · Childhood overweight and obesity · Weight stigma · Constructivist grounded theory
Introduction Social messages related to the dangers of childhood obesity are prevalent in North American culture (e.g., potential negative health repercussions, as well as increased susceptibility to experiencing weight-related marginalization and stigmatization by others) [1]. Given such alarming messaging, parents may feel great pressure to manage their children’s weight [2]. As it is common practice for adults to address their personal weight concerns through self-imposed dietary restriction, it is not surprising that parents may choose to address their children’s weight, with the best of intentions, by exerting control over their eating. Some parents may utilize overt (i.e., perceivable to the child who is subjected to them) restrictive feeding practices (ORFP) to limit their children’s consumption of energy-dense foods [3]. Parental * Isabel Brun [email protected] 1
Werklund School of Education, University of Calgary, Calgary, Canada
ORFP, however, have been found to hinder children’s ability to regulate food consumption which, inadvertently, contributes to higher body weight [4, 5]. Additionally, to our knowledge, no research has been conducted to evaluate how these feeding methods are psychologically experienced by those who are subjected to them, including potential long-term effects. As such, the current preliminary investigation examined remembered childhood experiences of parental ORFP aimed at promoting weight loss or preventing weight gain. Our guiding
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