Observations of parent–adolescent interactions relate to food parenting practices and adolescent disordered eating in adolescents at risk for adult obesity

Adolescent disordered eating and obesity are interrelated and adversely relate to mental and metabolic health. Parental feeding practices have been associated with adolescent disordered eating and obesity. Yet, observable interactions related to food parenting have not been well characterized. To address this gap, N = 30 adolescents (M ± SD 14 ± 2 year) at risk for adult obesity due to above‐average body mass index (BMI ≥70th percentile) or parental obesity (BMI ≥30 kg/m2) participated in a video‐recorded parent–adolescent task to discuss a food/eating‐related disagreement. Interactions were coded for individual/dyadic affect/content using the Interactional Dimensions Coding System. We examined associations of interaction qualities with parent‐reported food practices, adolescent disordered eating behaviors/attitudes, and insulin resistance. Reported parenting practices were correlated with multiple interaction qualities (p‐values