Parents' and daughters' perception of family aspects associated with the onset of an eating disorder / Percepción de padres e hijas acerca de los aspectos familiares asociados con el inicio de un trastorno alimentario

Abstract The purpose of this study was to identify and comprehend the family aspects associated to the development of an eating disorder (ED), from the point of view of parents with daughters diagnosed with an ED and women diagnosed with an ED. It is a qualitative study where a semi structured interview was used that gathered information about familial support, emotional expression, familial cohesion, problem solving, stressful life events and life cycle transitions, criticism about eating, body shape and weight. The sample comprised nine participants: five parents with daughters diagnosed with an ED, and four women with an ED. A content analysis derived two categories: Difficulties in rearing practices, and Parent's negative attitudes towards daughters eating, shape and weight. Parents showed difficulty with rearing practices during their daughter's childhood and adolescence that hindered the identification of the beginning of the ED. Parents also demonstrated affect by expressing approbation words when their daughters were slim and skipped this same expression for those who weren't. Both aspects were related to the development of an ED. In conclusion, it is highlighted the importance of considering familial aspects in the prevention of ED.

Resumen El objetivo de este trabajo fue identificar y comprender los aspectos familiares (AF) asociados al desarrollo de un trastorno de la conducta alimentaria (TCA), a partir de la percepción de padres con hijas diagnosticadas con TCA y de mujeres con diagnóstico de TCA. Este estudio cualitativo, con base a una entrevista semi-estructurada, abordó temas como: apoyo familiar, expresión de emociones, cohesión familiar, solución de problemas, situaciones de vida estresantes y de transición en el ciclo vital de la familia, burlas y comentarios negativos hacia la alimentación, la forma y el peso corporal. La muestra constó de nueve participantes: cinco padres de hijas diagnosticadas con TCA y cuatro mujeres con diagnóstico de TCA. El análisis de contenido derivó dos categorías: Dificultades en las prácticas parentales y Actitudes negativas de los padres hacia la alimentación, la forma y el peso de sus hijas. Los padres mostraron dificultades en las prácticas de crianza durante la infancia y la adolescencia de su hija, lo que obstaculizó la identificación del inicio del TCA. Además, los padres expresaban su afecto emitiendo palabras de aprobación cuando sus hijas eran delgadas y omitían expresarlo a las que no lo eran. Ambos aspectos relacionados con el desarrollo del TCA. En conclusión, destaca la importancia de considerar los AF en la prevención de los TCA.

Influencia familiar sobre la conducta alimentaria y su relación con la obesidad infantil: [revisão] / Eating behavior and childhood obesity: family influences: [review]

La conducta alimentaria es el conjunto de acciones que establecen la relación del ser humano con los alimentos. Se acepta generalmente que los comportamientos frente a la alimentación se adquieren a través de la experiencia directa con la comida, por la imitación de modelos, la disponibilidad de alimentos, el estatus social, los simbolismos afectivos y las tradiciones culturales. Además de las influencias sociales, se ha señalado que las influencias genéticas y de ambiente familiar compartido, tienen un impacto relevante sobre el patrón de ingesta, la conducta alimentaria y la obesidad infantil. Los estudios sobre ingesta de alimentos en obesidad se han centrado principalmente en determinar la cantidad y tipo de alimentos de la dieta habitual, presentando resultados controversiales. También existe un interés creciente por explorar la relación entre la obesidad y la conducta de alimentación, medida a través de herramientas psicométricas que analizan diferentes dimensiones tales como la alimentación emocional, la alimentación sin control o la restricción cognitiva. Esta revisión aborda la influencia de la familia sobre la conducta alimentaria infantil en relación con la obesidad, tanto desde la perspectiva del ambiente familiar compartido como desde la herencia genética.

Eating behavior involves all actions that define the relation between human beings and food. It is accepted that feeding habits are acquired through eating experiences and practices learned from the familiar and social context in early childhood. Besides the role of the social context, it is also assumed that familiar factors, both common family environment and genetic inheritance, have an important influence on food intake and eating behavior linked with childhood obesity. Research on food intake and childhood obesity has been traditionally focused on the amount and type of foods in the usual diet. However, it is an increasing interest to understand the link between eating behavior and obesity using questionnaires. There are several psychometric tools that have been developed specifically to deal with human eating behavior. This review summarizes the family influences, both genetic and non-genetic, on childhood feeding behavior and their relation to childhood obesity.

Adolescência, família e escolhas: implicações na orientação profissional / Adolescence, family and choices: implications on career guidance

A adolescência é uma fase do ciclo de vida na qual o indivíduo passa por transições que acarretam grandes mudanças em seu desenvolvimento. Este é um período de consolidação da identidade, em que o jovem se depara com uma série de escolhas que definirão seu futuro, dentre elas a escolha profissional. A família é apontada como um dos principais elementos que podem tanto ajudar quanto dificultar o jovem em sua escolha no momento da decisão profissional. As influências familiares podem ser trabalhadas de diversas maneiras, durante o processo de orientação profissional, auxiliando o adolescente a compreender as questões que estão por trás de sua escolha. Quando o jovem reconhece essas influências, ele pode utilizá-las, de forma consciente, ao estabelecer o seu projeto de vida pessoal e profissional.

Adolescence is a life-span stage in which the individual goes through transitions that can lead to big shifts in development. This is a moment of identity consolidation, when the adolescent faces many choices that will define his/her future, such as a career choice. Family is one of the major elements that can help or hinder this moment of professional decision. Family influences can be assessed by many ways during the career guidance process, in means of helping the adolescent understand the issues that are beneath this important choice. When the young person recognizes those influences, he/she can use them consciously to construct his/her personal and professional life project.