1 THE INFLUENCE OF FAMILY MEALS ON A CHILDS FOOD CONSUMPTION AND

2 LIKELYHOOD OF OBESITY
3
4
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6
7 Abstract
8 Eating meals as a family and allowing children to be influences for good is one aspect in a
9 childs life that limits the risk of obesity. This review offers a collection of articles providing
10 supporting evidence of the impact family meals have on childhood obesity. Articles regarding
11 the topic were found in the databases PubMed and EBSCO. Studies have suggested that when
12 family meals take place, children were more likely to consume vegetables and fruits as well as to
13 maintain a normal BMI. Specifically, the frequency of family meals and the quality of the home
14 environment during the meals has a lasting impact on a childs health and obesity risk.
15 INTRODUCTION
16
17 From the beginning of a childs life the influences of those around them and the
18 availability of food effect their food consumption.1The parents set the stage for a childs health,
19 providing the necessities of living, including the available of food. This leads to the home
20 becoming one of the biggest learning grounds for a child when accepting and eating food.1 The
21 parents as well as the sibling set an example that a child observes.6,7 With such influences within
22 the home, children either benefit or suffer in their health, specifically leading to an increase risk
23 for obesity.1,2,5,6
24 A child health is observed through their BMI. With the use of a childs height and weight,
25 their BMI is calculated and compared to a growth chart of the normal growth weight in children.
26 Depending on what the Childs BMI is in comparison to the chart determines their health as
27 being underweight, normal, overweight or obese. Studies use the BMI to illustrate the association
28 family meals have on the risk of obesity.3,4
29 Specific studies revealed aspects of family meals that have led to better health within the
30 child. These studies including: the impact of the parents example and influence on a childs
31 acceptance of food as well as the parents socioeconomic status and environment during family
32 meals.6,7,8,9 Studies also observed the habit of families eating in front of the television which
33 often replaces a meal shared at the table.10 The home is an essential part of a childs life where
34 the behavior of healthy eating habits begins.1 Specific studies illustrate the effect family meals
35 have on not only the health but the risk of obesity in children.
36
37 METHODS
38
39 Journal articles were found in the databases PubMed and Academic Search Premier
40 (EBSCO). While searching effect of family meals on childhood obesity in PubMed, 20 articles
41 were relevant to the topic. Many of them presented studies that observed the consumption of
42 vegetables by children and the risk of not consuming vegetables on obesity. Other studies
43 observed changes in weight as meals were consumed as a family. Along with the observation of
44 family meals on obesity, articles reported aspects of eating as a family such as the parents
45 influence and their example during family meals that lead to a decrease in risk of childhood
46 obesity.
47 Searching family meals and obesity in the Academic Search Premier (EBSCO)
48 database provided an even larger amount of articles. Two articles in particular that are later
49 presented state the effect family meals have on communities. Many of the articles were
50 consistent with the fact that family meals are associated with a decrease risk of obesity. Results
51 of searching family meals and childhood obesity led to articles observing the effect of eating in
52 front of the television rather than as a family. While some studies gave a positive association
53 between family meals and obesity, clarification was made in other articles that it was not the
54 occurrence or frequency of family meals but rather the environment within the home that had the
55 greatest effect on the risk of childhood obesity.
56
57 RESULTS/ DISCUSSION
58
59 In search to find the effect family meals have on childhood obesity specific case studies
60 give evidence of the positive impact eating together as a family have. In Minneapolis, 81
 61 families participated in an intervention study to increase the number of family meals offered at
62 home.2 Informative sessions and motivating phone calls were given over 10 months to encourage
63 family meals. These efforts led to an increase in meals shared within the family.2 Comments
64 from families who participated in the intervention were relatively positive. They expressed how
65 much the family enjoyed cooking together, eating healthier meals, and trying new recipes and
66 food. 2 Corresponding to this study, another intervention study aiming to increase the number of
67 family meals in a home was conducted and the weight of individuals in the home were
68 observed.3 Families, including children 8-12 years old and their parents, were placed into either a
69 group that received interventions on having family meals or a control group that received no
70 specific intervention. Measurements of the childrens body mass index were observed at the
71 baseline, post-intervention (12 months after the baseline) and follow-up (21 months after the
72 baseline). After adjusting for the baseline weight and demographics, results show that the
73 intervention group who consistently held family meals had significantly lower BMI than that of
74 the control group.3 Overall, eating meals together as a family lead to the child receiving more
75 nutritious food as well as having a lower BMI.2,3
76 Along with the case study performed on families in Minnesota, a study performed on
77 young adults illustrated an association between the number of meals eaten in a week as a family
78 and the BMI of the young adults 10 years later.4 Each individual was asked how frequently they
79 ate a meal with their family throughout the week. Individuals were placed into groups: 1-2 times,
80 3-4 times and 5 or more times. 10 years later the same individuals height and weight were taken
81 and their BMI was calculated. Of the young adults 15% said they never ate meals together as a
82 family. Of this 15%, 60% were overweight and 29% were obese. Of those who ate meals with
83 their family 1-2, 3-4 or 5 or more times a week, 47-51% were overweight and 19-22% were
84 obese.4 Though the percentages of overweight and obese individuals were relatively close when
85 comparing those who did not eat family meals to those who did eat family meals, results
86 illustrate that those who ate meals with their family are less likely at risk of becoming obese.4
87 Along with the observance of the association between family meals and BMI there is also
88 an association with food acceptance.5 Though family meals aid in the consumption of vegetables,
89 a study observing caregivers and their children ages 2-5 years old found that vegetable
90 consumption was not associated with the frequency of family meals. 5 Rather than the frequency
91 of meals eaten as a family, the consumption of vegetables was based on the child eating the same
92 food as the parents ate as well as the meal prepared from scratch. In the end, the study concludes
93 that it is not until later childhood and adolescent years that the frequency of family meals affect
94 childrens dietary quality and intake.5
95 Just as illustrated in the study above parents within the home provide a significant
96 influence on their children. A study of preschool-aged children illustrated a positive correlation
97 between the parents influence within the home and their childrens consumption of fruit and
98 vegetables.6 Specific observations were made, including parental role modeling, fruit and
99 vegetable availability, fruit and vegetable accessibility, pressure to eat, family eating policies and
100 family mealtime practices. 6 Observations were taken while the children were at preschool and
101 compared to the observations made within the home.6 The positive aspect within the home
102 provided a positive correlation to the children consumption of fruit and vegetables.6
103 The environment within a childs home, including the socioeconomic status, is a leading
104 contributor to obesity.7 A specific study compared differences in socioeconomic status, including
105 the parents education, income and occupation, and its association with obesity.7 The parents
106 income as well as their education had the most significant effect on obesity.7 The study showed
107 that having a low socioeconomic status led to fewer family meals, less healthy food habits
108 practiced, frequent fast food restaurant consumption, more television watched while eating, less
109 fruits and vegetables eaten and increased sweetened drink consumption. Overall, the
110 environment of healthy eating behaviors centered on family meals is not prevalent when there
111 are financial struggles.7 Findings from this study suggest that in order to ensure the health of
112 children, the environment within the home, including the income and educational status should
113 lead to meals enjoyed as a family.
114 In correlation to economic status, a positive environment has a lasting impact on a childs
115 preference for foods, including the foods taste, texture and smell. Evidence has shown that
116 children are more likely to eat in an emotionally positive environment.8 Parenting, which
117 includes providing nutritious food for a child to grow, may lead to forcing the child to eat
118 unfamiliar foods that are of greater nutrients than other foods the child would prefer. Forcing a
119 child to eat leads to greater resistance of food acceptance.8 Rather than forcing a child to eat
120 unaccepted food, results illustrated that a greater influence comes through continuing to offer the
121 initially rejected food and then setting the example of eating it.8 Family meals provide the
122 opportunity to offer new food to children as well as demonstrate an example of eating and
123 enjoying food that initially wasnt accepted by the child.
124 Along with the results illustrated before, the impact of a family meal consists of much
125 more than sitting down together and eating a meal. The interaction between family members
126 influence the health of the child.9 When observing the meals of several families over 8 days a
127 significant association was found between the dynamics of a family during meal time and the
128 risk of childhood obesity.9 Observations of family dynamics included the interaction of the
129 family during the meal. Specifically the associations between parents, parent with child, and
130 child with sibling.9 These results lead to improvement needed in making sure there are positive
131 interactions within the family during the meal in order to decrease the risk of childhood obesity.9
132 Rather than eating as a family, children are found eating meals while watching
133 television.10 One study found that eating a meal while watching television resulted in a decrease
134 of nutrient-dense foods when compared to those who ate meals with their families.10 A study
135 performed on Canadian students in grades 5-12 observed the risk of certain eating habits and
136 behaviors on obesity. 11 Only 52% of students in grades 9-12 and 68% in grades 5-8 reported
137 eating with family members daily. On the other hand, 76% in grades 9-12 and 68% of students in
138 grades 5-8 eat while in front of the television at least once a week. Of these students, those who
139 were obese were found to consume their meal while watching television rather than with their
140 family.11
141 In conclusion, family meals influence children in such a way as to affect their risk of
142 obesity. As addressed throughout the review, the example of parents and siblings become
143 influential on a childs acceptance of food.5,6 The parents ability to provide a healthily
144 environment including economically and socially also leads affects obesity.7,8,9 Habits within the
145 home are of significant influence and should be taken as an opportunity to benefit a childs
146 health for the rest of their lives.
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148
149 REFERENCES
150
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