Regular Family Meals have a Positive Effect on Healthy Adolescent Weight

Well, I thought since Collin gets to post his school papers on here, I can too! I just finished a research paper about the connection between eating regular family meals, and adolescent weight. The things I found out were pretty interesting! Hopefully you'll learn some new things too!

Benefits of Family Meals

In an ideal home, the dinner table is a place of gathering and unity. It is a place where all who come are nourished, physically, mentally, and emotionally. The dinner table is an important place to learn some of life’s most important lessons and skills. Adolescents (and even younger children) are able to develop social and interpersonal skills as they discuss the day’s events with the family, and share the things that are important to them. In turn, if the family members respond in a caring and encouraging way, they encourage the development of self-esteem and self-worth. This provides experiences that will help adolescents to develop confidence in themselves and their ability to relate to others appropriately in social situations. It is therefore important that the dinner experience be a positive one, and that the environment is conducive to having these important learning and family bonding experiences.
Having family meals on a regular basis can be a difficult challenge for many families. Trying to make multiple schedules compatible so that everyone can eat together is difficult enough as it is, but adding in teenagers who may be unwilling to cooperate, may make the whole idea seem impossible. However, the benefits of having family meals together may very well outweigh the disadvantages. Having more family meals during adolescence is associated with improved diet quality during young adulthood (Larson & Neumark-Sztainer, 2007, p.1509), better psychological well-being, and less occurrence of depression (Fulkerson, Strauss, Neumark-Sztainer, Story & Boutelle. 2007, p. 184). In addition, frequent family meals may also help protect against disordered eating as they “provide an opportunity to demonstrate appropriate nutritional intake and eating behavior as well as interpersonal interaction” (Ackard & Neumark-Sztainer, 2001, pp.246, 248).
It has also been found that frequent family meals are associated with less skipped breakfasts. The more often people skip breakfasts, the less nutrients they are getting (i.e. protein, fiber, vitamins, and minerals) and their susceptibility for weight gain increases (Larson & Neumark-Sztainer, 2007 p.1508). The more nutrient-rich and balanced a person’s diet is, the healthier their weight will be.
Family meals not only promote healthy behaviors but also healthy weight. When regular family meals are eaten in the home, healthy dietary habits and behaviors are established and carried through young adulthood (Larson & Neumark-Sztainer, 2007, p.1505). These habits are established as parents involve children in the meal-preparing process. This allows an opportunity for parents to model healthful attitudes toward food and eating, as they teach their children first-hand, the importance of eating balanced meals (Gable, Chang & Krull, 2007, p.60). Adolescents are also able to build healthy and stable familial relationships, and better self confidence as they engage in these activities. By helping adolescents to develop good self-esteem, self-worth, and self-confidence, it gives them the power to make healthy choices in the food they eat. They build up confidence in their capability to eat what they know will be good for them, and to not over-eat.
Eating Disorders
Regular family meals not only promote good social skills and healthy attitudes toward eating and weight, but they may also help to protect adolescents from developing an eating disorder. Family meals are so effective that it has been shown that thy have an inverse relationship with the occurrence of eating disorders in adolescents (Ackard & Neumark-Sztainer, 2001, p. 246). The more often family meals are shared, the less chance there is of developing disordered eating patterns. Of course, this is conditional, based upon the quality of the family meals and total atmosphere. Families should be careful to make sure that it is a positive environment for those involved, because the environment created has potential to either help or harm adolescents in their overall health and well-being (p. 240).
According to a recent study (Neumark-Sztainer, Eisenberg, Fulkerson, Story, & Larson, 2008), family meals are identified as one of the “major protective factors against unhealthy weight control practices” (p.18). This especially applies to adolescent girls, and their overall health and well-being (p.20). This could be due to the constructive environment that a family meal can provide. It encourages adolescents to choose the foods they want to eat (out of a variety of healthy options), and allows them to express themselves to a caring and attentive audience, giving them the control, affirmation and confidence that they so often need to feel.
Conclusion
Family meals that have a positive and constructive atmosphere can provide an environment that encourages all-around health and well-being in adolescents. They are able to focus on making healthful decisions, and are more likely to have improved diet quality as they reach young adulthood (Larson, Neumark-Sztainer, Hannan, & Story, 2007, p.1509). In making healthy diet choices, they are able to maintain a healthy body weight, and are more likely to continue to do so throughout their lives. Family meals are of the utmost importance, and all families should consider making them a priority in their home.