Sharing food with others reduces obesity and improves health

A new study on health and eating habits revealed that sharing a meal with your loved ones reduces the risk of obesity and can improve your general health, according to the British newspaper "Daily Mail".

Researchers from the Open University of Catalonia, Foodlab, interviewed families and children between the ages of 12 and 16 on their meal times and general health.

They found family meal routines, such as sharing food, sitting around a table without digital devices or having fun conversation, to be helpful.

They said the Mediterranean diet favors conversation and eating slower, which helps children recognize feelings of fullness and thus prevents obesity.

The main function of the study was to investigate the main feature of the Mediterranean diet - socialization at mealtime and how it affects children's health.

"At a time when the lockdown due to the epidemic has revived family meals, this study points to one potential positive aspect of the situation we had to face," explains researcher in the study, Anna Bach Weig.

The team first interviewed the mother in each of the twelve families, then analyzed one of the least studied aspects of the Mediterranean diet - socialization.

And they wanted to understand how speaking at meal times, as well as how we eat when we are in a family group, affects our health.

"A healthy diet is not just what we eat but also how we eat it. The Mediterranean diet is much more than a menu. It is a cultural model that includes how these foods are selected, produced, processed and consumed," Bach Feig explained.

To determine the degree of coexistence in the families studied, the researchers analyzed the frequency and duration of family meals, where they were made, the use of digital devices, food preparation and the type of communication.

According to the study, the majority of families ate only dinner together, and habits varied depending on whether they ate alone or with their loved ones.

Family meals were seen as a place of communication and socialization, according to the research team.

And when families set aside less time for them, did not sit at the table, were distracted by digital devices or did not engage in pleasant conversation during these gatherings, they also followed the Mediterranean diet to a lesser extent.

For the majority of parents, family meals were especially important when they had teenage children, as they prefer conversation and closer family ties.

One of the mothers interviewed explained: "It is easier when the children are young, but in adolescence there is a separation between you and them, and thanks to these conversations, you can gain insight into their world."

Moreover, the majority considered that it is through these family gatherings that parents become role models and help establish healthy patterns for their children.

This impression is consistent with the results of other studies in which it has been shown that eating together as a family is associated with a healthy diet, with more fruits and vegetables, and less sugary drinks.

For nutritionist Bach Weig, it is imperative that eating traditions be preserved in order to ensure the benefits of the Mediterranean diet and promote the health of younger generations.

However, for several decades now, the Mediterranean diet has lost its influence in the face of the so-called "Western diet", which is characterized by the predominance of processed foods and eating them quickly, often in front of television.

The study stresses that it is essential to consider these aspects in order to promote a healthy diet among adolescents and to design public health campaigns.

The results are published in the International Journal of Environmental Research and Public Health.