Parenting to promote eating, body image, and weight-related health in young adults.

Physical and psychological health (e.g., healthful eating behavior, physical activity, body image) are dimensions of successful young adult development. Families are an important developmental context, yet little is known about how parents contribute to their young adult children's eating behavior, body image, or weight-related health. The purpose of this study was to shed light on parents' perceived roles, practices, and concerns regarding their young adult children's eating, body image, and weight-related health. Data were drawn from 558 parents who participated in Project Eating and Activity over Time, a population-based study of eating, activity, and weight-related health, and responded to an open-ended question about parenting their young adult children regarding eating habits and weight. Thematic analysis revealed heterogeneity in parents' perceptions of their roles in their young adult children's eating and weight-related health; we identified subthemes of autonomy, loss of control, and lack of responsibility. Parents reported using an array of parenting practices and strategies (e.g., modeling) to promote healthy eating, body image, and weight-related health in their young adult children. Parents also reported numerous factors that challenged or influenced their parenting, including child characteristics, contextual influences, and lack of knowledge. Although parents' perceived roles change with their child's development, many parents are still invested and involved in their young adult children's eating, body image, and weight-related health. Our findings have implications for theory and suggest that parents may benefit from guidance about navigating their child's transition to young adulthood in ways that support their eating, body image, and weight-related health. (PsycInfo Database Record (c) 2026 APA, all rights reserved).