Overt restrictive feeding for weight management: a preliminary retrospective examination of childhood experiences

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.