| This study explored the childhood and adolescent family mealtime environment of 20 women with Binge Eating Disorder, 10 with mild binge eating (1--3 times a week) and 10 with severe binge eating (5--7 times a week). Satisfaction of Binge Eating Disorder criteria was ascertained using a short Binge Eating Disorder questionnaire and participants provided personal information in a demographic questionnaire. Participants were interviewed using a semi-structured interview designed for this study. Interview questions explored mealtime structure, parent-child interpersonal interaction during mealtime, perception of mealtime environment, eating patterns, and perception of autonomy outside of mealtime. Adolescent and current binging behavior were also explored and participants who were parents themselves were asked about mealtime with their own children. Results indicate that the present sample of women with BED were not likely to be married or have children as only three participants were married or had children of their own. Five participants came from families with divorced parents. Fifteen participants had a history of attending psychotherapy for mental health issues and 12 reported medical diagnoses. More than half of the participants described childhood and adolescent family mealtime as a negative, chaotic experience involving interpersonal conflict. Participants also reported unique eating patterns including eating secretly, eating in front of the television, and vegetarianism. In comparison to participants with mild BED, participants with severe BED weighed more, reported more obesity, reported a higher incidence of depression, and reported eating more than peers in adolescence. Participants in the severe group were also more likely to report a more structured childhood mealtime environment, more mealtime rules in adolescence, and more parental discipline than participants in the mild group. Additionally, the construct of control emerged in mealtime rules; parental encouragement and discouragement of participant eating; and the parent-child relationship outside of mealtime, including rules, discipline, and lack of privacy. Unexpected findings included the impact of siblings and parental alcoholism, as almost half of the participants reported that either their father or mother was a compulsive drinker. |
