OBJECTIVE: To examine the relationship between family meals and nutrition behaviors of adolescents. DESIGN: Secondary analysis of Youth'07, a nationally representative survey. SETTING: Secondary schools in New Zealand. PARTICIPANTS: Randomly selected adolescents (aged 13-17 years, n = 9,107) completed a multimedia and anonymous survey about their health. VARIABLES MEASURED: Body mass index and eating behaviors. ANALYSIS: Multiple logistic regression equations were used to determine the associations between family meals and body size and dietary behaviors, controlling for demographic variables. RESULTS: Nearly 60% of young people shared a meal with their families 5 or more times in the previous week. Frequent family meals were associated with greater consumption of fruits and vegetables (P < .001), and breakfast (P < .001). Adolescents who frequently shared family meals were also more likely to report that what they ate in the past week was healthy than adolescents who did not (P < .001). There was no relationship between frequency of family meals and body mass index (P = .60). CONCLUSIONS AND IMPLICATIONS: Data from the current study suggest that family meals cannot be used as a single strategy for obesity prevention, but they may provide an important opportunity for young people to consume healthy food.
OBJECTIVE: To examine the relationship between family meals and nutrition behaviors of adolescents. DESIGN: Secondary analysis of Youth'07, a nationally representative survey. SETTING: Secondary schools in New Zealand. PARTICIPANTS: Randomly selected adolescents (aged 13-17 years, n = 9,107) completed a multimedia and anonymous survey about their health. VARIABLES MEASURED: Body mass index and eating behaviors. ANALYSIS: Multiple logistic regression equations were used to determine the associations between family meals and body size and dietary behaviors, controlling for demographic variables. RESULTS: Nearly 60% of young people shared a meal with their families 5 or more times in the previous week. Frequent family meals were associated with greater consumption of fruits and vegetables (P < .001), and breakfast (P < .001). Adolescents who frequently shared family meals were also more likely to report that what they ate in the past week was healthy than adolescents who did not (P < .001). There was no relationship between frequency of family meals and body mass index (P = .60). CONCLUSIONS AND IMPLICATIONS: Data from the current study suggest that family meals cannot be used as a single strategy for obesity prevention, but they may provide an important opportunity for young people to consume healthy food.
Authors: Jerica M Berge; Kimberly P Truesdale; Nancy E Sherwood; Nathan Mitchell; William J Heerman; Shari Barkin; Donna Matheson; Carolyn E Levers-Landis; Simone A French Journal: Public Health Nutr Date: 2017-09-14 Impact factor: 4.022
Authors: Jennifer Utter; Nicole Larson; Jerica M Berge; Marla E Eisenberg; Jayne A Fulkerson; Dianne Neumark-Sztainer Journal: Prev Med Date: 2018-05-07 Impact factor: 4.018
Authors: Jerica M Berge; Vivienne M Hazzard; Nicole Larson; Samantha L Hahn; Rebecca L Emery; Dianne Neumark-Sztainer Journal: Prev Med Rep Date: 2021-09-28
Authors: Seo Yeon Lee; Seong Ah Ha; Jung Sook Seo; Cheong Min Sohn; Hae Ryun Park; Kyung Won Kim Journal: Nutr Res Pract Date: 2014-11-20 Impact factor: 1.926