Adolescents and young adults who eat dinner with their families more often have healthier diets — regardless of how well their families function in general — according to a cross-sectional study in JAMA Network Open.
Researchers studied roughly 2700 young people ages 14 to 24 who reported living with their parents and who completed surveys on family dinners and family functioning. Participants averaged 3.4 family dinners per week.
After adjustment for parents’ educational attainment and family structure, more frequent family dinners were associated with higher intake of fruits and vegetables and lower intake of fast food and takeout food among both females and males — and with lower intake of sugar-sweetened beverages among males. Further adjustment for a family function score, which assessed factors like communication and feeling accepted, did not alter the findings.
The researchers conclude that More frequent family dinners are associated with healthful dietary intakes among youths, regardless of level of family functioning. Family dinners may be an appropriate intervention target for improving dietary intake among youths.
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Source: JAMA & NEJM jorunal watch
