Body size and parenting in eating disorders: a comparative study of the attitudes of mothers towards their children.

The present study aimed to redress the paucity of available information on the effects of eating disorders on patients' parenting capabilities and their children's development. Ten previous and/or current eating-disordered mothers and their children and 10 normal mothers and their offspring completed several rating scales and participated in a semistructured interview. The results indicated that both groups and their children displayed similar levels of satisfaction with their body sizes and perceived their current weights and shape with a similar degree of accuracy. These groups were, however, found to differ on the types of feeding employed during their children's infancy with the eating-disordered mothers choosing to schedule feed their babies, whereas the control mothers fed on demand. At least half the children of eating-disordered mothers were also described as suffering from emotional difficulties. Recommendations are made for increased availability of supportive and instructive facilities for these mothers, particularly during their nursing period.