When it comes to keeping your weight at a healthy level, there’s no denying the importance of a balanced diet and plenty of exercise.
But in the fight against obesity, could we be overlooking another crucial factor? Researchers from the University of Minnesota and Columbia University think so – and the key may be how often your family eats together.
Led by psychologist Jerica M. Berge, the research team looked at data from several different weight-related studies focused on teens. In these studies, 51 per cent of the subjects were overweight and 22 per cent obese.
Of the young people who said they never ate a meal with their family, 60 per cent were overweight and 29 per cent were obese when researchers followed up again 10 years later.
The results were still compelling even if families didn’t eat together every day. For example, the researchers found that eating just 1-2 family meals together per week was associated with reduced odds of obesity and other weight issues at the 10-year follow up.
This could be because family meals are more likely to be healthy, and eating together often helps to build a closer bond between people.
Of course, there’s no guarantee that having a family dinner a few times a week will prevent obesity. But by serving nutritious meals at the table, parents can help set a better example for their kids about healthy eating habits – and get in some fun family time as well!
