Eating problems are often thought to mainly affect adolescents and young adults. But while eating disorders usually develop among young people, unaddressed eating problems often continue later into adulthood. Many mums still live with food and body concerns, or are vulnerable to disordered eating behaviours resurfacing.
Like any person with food and body concerns, mums with eating problems require – and deserve – support and care. However, in the family context, this support is important not only for their own well-being but also for the well-being of the family. Parents’ attitudes and behaviours surrounding food are easily internalised and adopted by children, making it more likely that they’ll also develop eating problems.
Unfortunately, mums with food and body concerns are often overlooked, both in discourse and eating disorder treatment.
How Common are Food and Body Concerns in Mums?
Eating disorders usually develop during adolescence. But they are also common among young adults and adults, including among mothers. Food and body concerns that may not meet the diagnostic criteria for an eating disorder – but are still harmful and distressing – are even more common.
In one study in the United States, 74.5% of women aged 25 to 45 reported that concerns about shape and weight interfered with their happiness. Disordered eating behaviours and extreme weight loss measures were also common.
Research also shows that mothers whose daughters have eating disorders are more likely to experience disordered eating themselves.
How Do Mums’ Food and Body Concerns Affect Young People?
Young people are always learning. They observe, internalise, and copy the attitudes and behaviours of others, especially their parents. This process is incredibly important for children to grow and develop valuable knowledge and skills, but it also leaves them vulnerable to adopting harmful patterns themselves.
Mums with food and body concerns often place a lot of self-value on their body shape and weight. Sometimes, children may notice their parents’ body concerns and begin to worry about their own bodies. In other cases, mums with body image problems can start to think about their children’s weight or body shape or size.
In both situations, children can internalise these concerns and begin to feel dissatisfied with their bodies. They may develop body dissatisfaction, body dysmorphia, and low self-esteem. If parents are worried about their children’s weight, children may start to eat in secret, particularly if parents implement rules around food and eating.
Parents who avoid situations with food may also encourage children to think that eating is something difficult or something that should be done in secret.
Young Children and Body Image Concerns
Experts used to think that young children were largely resilient to body image concerns. Body dissatisfaction and disordered behaviours were thought to develop as young people approached their teenage years.
However, research now suggests that some children as young as nine experience a desire to be thin and restrict their eating to change their body shape or size. Studies also show that mothers’ dieting is linked to unhealthy and extreme weight control behaviours. This means that it’s important to support Mums with food and body concerns as early as possible.
What Support Is Available for Mums with Eating Problems or Body Concerns?
Within families, the well-being and mental health of mothers are usually overlooked. Mums often prioritise their children’s needs over their own and may not seek help when they need it. However, the well-being of mothers is as important as anyone else in the family, and it affects the well-being of their children too.
When mums are living with undiagnosed eating problems, it can be hard to build a positive home environment around eating. Even when mums understand which behaviours are helpful and which are harmful, it can still be difficult to implement them in practice. These behaviours may contradict deep-seated thoughts and feelings that need to be addressed first.
There are different types of support available for mothers with eating problems or a history of body concerns. Some approaches focus on individual support, specifically addressing mums’ own experiences and behaviours. Others look towards the family system, emphasising the impact of parents’ behaviours on children and the development of positive interactions, relationships, and family dynamics.
Some treatment approaches that may support mums include:
- Individual therapy, such as cognitive behavioural therapy
- Psychoeducation
- Family therapy
Individual Therapy
Individual therapies, such as cognitive behavioural therapy and interpersonal therapy, can help mothers identify and change the thoughts, feelings, and experiences that underlie disordered eating attitudes and behaviours. They may also learn new skills and coping mechanisms to manage difficult emotions in healthy ways.
Disordered eating is often partly rooted in interpersonal difficulties. In interpersonal therapy, mothers learn to develop skills such as open communication, boundary setting, and resilience to criticism. This can help build positive, mutual relationships with others and reduce their focus on shape and weight concerns.
Psychoeducation
Psychoeducation sessions may teach parents about helpful and harmful behaviours surrounding behaviours. This might include the modelling of positive eating habits through their own words and behaviours, which may be internalised by young people. It may also involve learning about helpful parenting styles and what to avoid, such as implementing rules around food.
Family Therapy
In family therapy sessions, families may develop skills and practices that promote a healthy food environment. Therapists can help identify harmful interactions and dynamics in the family and replace them with positive ones. This might include behaviours directly related to food, as well as more indirect factors related to care, encouragement, and warmth.
The Wave Clinic: Specialist Eating Disorder Support for Young People and Families
The Wave Clinic offers specialist mental health treatment spaces for young people and families. We provide family-centred, trauma-focused treatment programs for eating disorders, borderline personality disorder, and other mental health concerns.
We understand the important role of the family in a young person’s recovery from eating disorders. Our residential programs fully involve the family, including a week of residential family therapy.
Among our outpatient modalities, we offer five or ten days of intensive family therapy, alongside other approaches for families and parents.
If you’re interested in our programs, get in touch today. We’re here to support you.
tunately, mums with food and body concerns are often overlooked, both in discourse and eating disorder treatme
