Links between mothers’ and childrenʹs disinhibited eating and childrenʹs adiposity

Few studies have examined relationships between parents’ and childrenʹs specific disinhibited eating behaviors. We investigated links among mothers’ and childrenʹs binge/loss of control eating, eating in the absence of hunger, and childrenʹs adiposity in 305 non-treatment-seeking youth, aged 8–17 years (13.62 ± 2.65 years; 49.8% female) and their mothers. Youths’ loss of control eating and eating in the absence of hunger were assessed by interview and self-report questionnaire. Childrenʹs adiposity was assessed with BMI-z and air displacement plethysmography. Maternal binge eating, eating in the absence of hunger and highest, non-pregnant BMI were self-reported. In structural equation models controlling for mothers’ BMI, mothers’ binge eating related to childrenʹs loss of control eating, and mothers’ eating in the absence of hunger related to childrenʹs eating in the absence of hunger. Mothers’ binge eating and childrenʹs eating in the absence of hunger were unrelated, as were mothers’ eating in the absence of hunger and childrenʹs loss of control. Further, mothers’ binge eating was indirectly related to childrenʹs adiposity through childrenʹs loss of control eating. Likewise, mothers’ eating in the absence of hunger indirectly related to childrenʹs adiposity through childrenʹs eating in the absence of hunger. Mothers and children share similar, specific disinhibited eating styles.