Common meals in the family promote healthy eating of children

Healthy eating of children is encouraged by frequent family meals

More and more children are suffering from obesity. This is mainly due to a lack of exercise and an unhealthy diet with too much sugar. But how do parents manage to make their offspring eat healthier? Quite simply: By taking meals more often within the family. This has now been demonstrated in a meta-analysis of nearly 60 studies.

More and more children are too fat

According to international research, the number of obese children has increased dramatically. Also in Germany more and more obese people live. Obesity can cause a variety of diseases. To address the problem, it is important to address the main risk factors for overweight: lack of exercise and unhealthy diet. But how can you positively influence the eating habits of children? Quite simply: By frequent family meals.

Successful obesity prevention begins at the family's dining table. Because frequent family meals promote a healthier diet in children, as shown in a study. (Image: pressmaster / fotolia.com)

Successful obesity prevention begins at the family dining table

Having a family meal together has tremendous learning potential because eating habits are shaped and trained early.

Children can repeatedly come into contact with healthy food and generally learn about nutrition and the preparation of food.

A meta-analysis by scientists at the Max Planck Institute for Human Development in Berlin and the University of Mannheim now shows that frequent family meals are related to a lower body mass index (BMI) and a healthier diet in children.

It did not matter in which country the study was conducted or how old the children were. It did not matter if breakfast, lunch or dinner was eaten together and if only one parent or the whole family was sitting at the table.

Counteract harmful eating habits

"Childhood provides a unique window of opportunity to counteract harmful health and eating habits," said lead author Mattea Dallacker of the Max Planck Institute for Human Development in a statement.

"Parents are also referred to as so-called 'gatekeepers', so doormen of the diet. They have a significant influence on what, how and how much children eat. Family meals provide a diverse learning environment to promote a healthy diet in children. "

However, family meals do not necessarily lead to a healthier diet in certain circumstances.

The causes and mechanisms behind the relationship between frequent family meals and better diets still need to be understood according to study authors.

"Current research suggests that eating together, not only the quality of food, but also psychological and behavioral aspects are important in joint meals," said co-author Jutta Mata of the University of Mannheim.

"For example, meal routines such as a good meal atmosphere or a positive parental role model could improve children's diets."

Indicators of healthy and unhealthy diet

As part of their meta-analysis, the scientists evaluated a total of 57 studies with more than 200,000 subjects worldwide.

The study found that the analysis included studies on the relationship between family meals and the nutritional status of children, as measured by body mass index (BMI), daily fruit and vegetable intake (as a healthy diet indicator), and diet Consumption of sweetened drinks, fast food or salty snacks (as an indicator of unhealthy diet).

The influence of factors such as age, socioeconomic status and type of family meal and number of family members present at a meal was also examined.

"Given that both parents are increasingly working, regular family meals are becoming a daily challenge for many families," said Ralph Hertwig, director of the Max Planck Institute for Human Development and co-author of the study.

"With regard to a modern society, initial scientific findings are therefore important, showing that family-style meals, for example at school, also have a positive effect on children's diets. A study shows that teachers can also present a positive role model during meals with students, "explains the expert. (Ad)