Obesity: the benefits of family meals in adolescence
In order to deal with the risks associated with obesity, family meals remain an excellent way. More balanced and varied, they are essential for maintaining and balancing weight.
TheJournal Of Pediatrics(1) published a study stating that maintaining the habit of eating meals with the family, particularly in adolescence, would have a beneficial effect on overweight and obesity in adulthood.
The impact on obesity risk
This American study reveals that keeping this family moment with children and adolescents, preserves andacts directly on their risk of obesity, later in adulthood. Researchers from the Universities of Minnesota and Columbia took into account different criteria: food intake, weight control behaviors in adolescents, physical activity and family eating habits.
This study was carried out over a period of 10 years and has 2287 young participants with among them 51% overweight and 22% obese. The findings at the end of this period show that among adolescents who never eat their meal with their family, 60% are overweight and 29% are obese. This analysis clearly states that the frequency of family meals in adolescence is associated with reduced risk of obesity.
This study also finds that a single family meal per weekis enough to be beneficialon weight maintenance and protects the adolescent from the risk of overweight in adulthood.
Why have a family meal?
The family meal allows a regulation especially on the weight status. It takes into account vegetables and fruits and is a source of calcium and vitamins. It constitutes many contributions that you do not find in meals outside including frying, sugar or soda, or meals taken “quickly”, thus promoting snacking.
With achildhood obesity rate of 16%, France tends to catch up with the United States. The family meal allows children and teenagers a healthier and more varied diet.
In addition, the family meal promotes the development of emotional ties of the family, also participating in the protective role related to the risk of obesity.
The meal taken with the family isstructuringandsafeand can reduce risky behaviors related to eating, by helping to avoid eating disorders such as bulimia.
Stephen Paul is the lead author and founder of My Health Sponsor. Holder of a diploma in health and well-being coaching with more than 200 articles in the field of health, he makes it a point of honor to offer advice based on reliable information, based on scientific research, and verified by health professionals.