Author Identifier (ORCID)
Abstract
Purpose: People living with Huntington’s disease (pwHD) experience cognitive and motor changes that affect meal planning, preparation and food consumption. This study explored factors that influence meal management and eating behaviours of pwHD and their families.
Methods: This is a qualitative study employing semi-structured interviews and thematic analysis. Participants included gene-positive individuals living in Perth Western Australia, ranging from asymptomatic or experiencing subtle changes, to early to mid-stage HD.
Results: Nine individuals (mean age 47 ± 12.3 years) were interviewed for the study, including five gene-positive being asymptomatic or minimal symptoms. Seven themes were identified reflecting participants’ existing meal management practices, including 1) independence and autonomy in meal management, 2) diet, food choices and eating patterns, 3) social dimensions of meals and eating, 4) relational dynamics and distribution of food labour, 5) meal-management challenges and stress, 6) adaptive strategies and support systems, and 7) food waste concerns.
Conclusion: The study identified the practical and social influences on meal management in people living with HD. Meal management is a multifaceted experience, and individuals respond to these challenges with diverse coping strategies and supports. Accessible meal solutions should accommodate diverse household contexts, support autonomy in food and meal-related decisions and reduce caregiver burden.
Keywords
cooking experiences, eating behaviour, Huntington’s disease, lived experience, meal management
Document Type
Journal Article
Date of Publication
1-1-2026
E-ISSN
14645165
ISSN
09638288
PubMed ID
42799645
Publication Title
Disability and Rehabilitation
Publisher
Taylor & Francis
School
Centre for Precision Health / School of Medical and Health Sciences / Nutrition and Health Innovation Research Institute
RAS ID
101972
Funding Information
This research was supported by Centre for Precision Health, Edith Cowan University.
Creative Commons License
This work is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 License.
Recommended Citation
Rees, J., Yan, R., Clark, M., Jolly, M., Fisher, A., Devine, A., Laws, S. M., Moes, K., & Cruickshank, T. (2026). Exploring factors that influence meal management and eating behaviours in people living with Huntington’s disease. Disability and Rehabilitation. Advance online publication. https://doi.org/10.1080/09638288.2026.2735448