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Objective: To explore differences in family mealtime characteristics and family mealtime emotions among adolescents who report engaging in binge-eating in comparison to those who do not., Method: Adolescents (N = 495) recruited from UK schools/colleges reported on their family mealtime frequency and atmosphere, family mealtime emotions, anxiety, depression and eating psychopathology., Results: No significant differences were found between adolescents who reported binge-eating (n = 32 boys; n = 82 girls) and those who did not (n = 196 boys; n = 185 girls) on family mealtime frequency or mealtime atmosphere scores. However, boys and girls who binge-eat reported significantly lower levels of positive family mealtime emotions and significantly higher levels of family mealtime anxiety and anger (girls only), compared with their peers who did not report binge-eating., Discussion: Adolescents who binge-eat experience significantly greater negative emotional responses to family mealtimes than their peers. Further research should explore why these experiences are more negative, including broader familial factors and interactions., (Copyright © 2019 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.)

Objective: Examine relationships between parental mealtime strategies used in the family meal session of family-based treatment (FBT) and adolescent outcomes at EOT (session 20)., Method: Eighteen families with an adolescent receiving FBT-AN participated. Parental strategies during videoed family meals were assessed using a family mealtime coding system. Change scores were calculated for both adolescent %EBW and EDE scores., Results: Increased use of parental direct and non-direct eating prompts during the family meal was associated with greater adolescent weight gain at EOT. Use of parental mealtime strategies was not associated with any significant change in adolescent eating psychopathology at EOT., Discussion: Parental verbal eating prompts during the family meal may be effective in promoting short-term weight gain. During the family meal session, parents should be encouraged to maintain a direct focus on their adolescent child's eating behaviour which may assist their child with food consumption and potential weight gain. Further research examining food-based interactions among parents and their adolescent child with AN is needed. © 2016 Wiley Periodicals, Inc.(Int J Eat Disord 2017; 50:433-436)., (© 2016 Wiley Periodicals, Inc.)

This study aimed to examine the factor structure of the Mealtime Emotions Measure for adolescents (MEM-A), a novel measure of emotional responses experienced during family mealtimes. Additionally, it examined gender differences in mealtime emotions and also the relationships between mealtime emotions and levels of eating psychopathology, when controlling for anxiety or depression. Adolescent participants (N = 527; 282 girls, 245 boys) with a mean age of 15.9 years completed the new mealtime measure for adolescents (MEM-A), in addition to questions about family mealtime atmosphere, and measures assessing symptoms of anxiety, depression, and eating psychopathology. Factor analysis produced a three factor solution for the MEM-A with two subscales relating to different types of negative mealtime emotions (Anxiety-related mealtime emotions and Anger-related mealtime emotions) and one subscale relating to Positive mealtime emotions. Generally, girls reported experiencing more Anxiety-related mealtime emotions compared to boys. Having conducted separate analyses controlling for levels of either anxiety or depression, there were several significant associations for both girls and boys between mealtime emotions, particularly Anxiety-related emotions, and eating psychopathology. The findings suggest that some mealtime emotions are associated with increased eating psychopathology. Replication and detailed examination of these emotional responses is required., (Copyright © 2014 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.)

Objective: To examine the range and frequency of parental mealtime strategies used during the family meal session of Family-Based Treatment (FBT) for adolescent anorexia nervosa, and to explore the relationships between parental mealtime strategies, mealtime emotional tone and parental 'success' at encouraging adolescent food consumption., Method: Participants were 21 families with a child aged between 12 and 18 years receiving FBT for adolescent anorexia nervosa. Video recordings of the family meal session (FBT session two) were coded using the Family Mealtime Coding System adapted in this study for use with adolescents (FMCS-A) to identify frequency of parental strategies, emotional tone of the meal (measured by adolescent positive and negative vocalisations) and frequency of prompted mouthfuls consumed by the adolescent (measured by the number of mouthfuls consumed by the adolescent immediately following parental interactions)., Results: A range of parental mealtime strategies were in use. Those used repeatedly included direct eating prompts, non-direct eating prompts, physical prompts, and providing information or food-related choices. Several parental mealtime strategies (direct and non-direct eating prompts) were found to be consistently associated with the tone of adolescents' vocalisations and the number of mouthfuls consumed in response to a parental prompt., Discussion: Despite associations with negativity from the adolescent, the use of food-related prompts (both verbal and physical) seems to be associated with increased eating. This indicates the potentially important role of parental control of eating. Following replication, these findings might provide a focus for therapists when supporting and coaching parents during the family meal session., (© 2014 Wiley Periodicals, Inc.)

Characteristics of family mealtimes are associated with disordered eating behaviours. However, little is known about the relationships between characteristics of family mealtimes and disordered eating attitudes, or how symptoms of anxiety or depression may contribute to these relationships. This study therefore aimed to examine differences between adolescent girls and boys in the relationship between family mealtime characteristics and eating psychopathology, and to explore the influence of anxiety and depression on this relationship. Adolescents (N=535; 286 girls and 249 boys) aged 14-18years completed self-report measures of family mealtime characteristics, eating psychopathology, anxiety and depression. Reports of more frequent family mealtimes, a more positive mealtime atmosphere and a high level of priority placed on mealtimes were all associated with significantly lower levels of eating-disordered attitudes among girls only. For boys, all four mealtime measures (higher mealtime frequency, more positive mealtime atmosphere, greater priority of mealtimes and higher levels of mealtime structure) were associated with lower levels of depression. Among girls, several of the family mealtime and eating psychopathology relationships were partially or fully mediated by either anxiety or depression. While these findings require longitudinal replication, family mealtimes are likely to be important in promoting psychological well-being among both girls and boys. Families should be encouraged to think beyond the frequency of mealtimes and to foster a positive mealtime environment which may help to promote adolescent psychological wellbeing, and might even protect young females against the development of eating psychopathology., (Copyright © 2014 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.)