Observation of parental functioning at mealtime using a sibling design

This study investigates whether parental feeding practices are part of the shared environment or responsive to characteristics of different children from the same family. Thirty-six mothers with two children (4–12 y) of which 10 sibling-pairs were discordant for weight status (healthy weight–overweight), were invited to the lab for a standard meal. Maternal responsive and controlling behaviour was observed and coded. Children’s weight status and eating behaviour was assessed. Results indicated that in general, mothers show similar levels of responsiveness and controlling behaviour within families. However, the use of mothers’ authoritarian and permissive behaviour and her expressions of involvement at mealtime were consequently related to children’s amount of food eaten and their restraining eating style. Thus, the amount of food children eat, both observed and assessed by questionnaire, seems related to more maladaptive parenting practices in mothers. This pleads for more tailor-made guidelines when advising parents of children with eating- and weight problems.