Eating Alone is Differentially Associated with the Risk of Metabolic Syndrome in Korean Men and Women

Abstract

Few studies have examined overall patterns of eating alone in relation to the risk of metabolic syndrome (MetS) in Korean populations. The present study aimed to examine the relationship between patterns of eating alone and the risk of MetS in Korean adults. Data from the Korea National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey (KNHANES) for 2013–2015 were used, with 8988 Korean adult participants, including 3624 men and 5364 women, aged 18 to 64 years. Patterns of eating alone were categorized into eight groups based on the total frequency of eating alone on a daily basis in the past one year: (1) three times for breakfast, lunch, and dinner; (2) twice for breakfast and dinner; (3) twice for lunch and dinner; (4) twice for breakfast and lunch; (5) once for breakfast only; (6) once for lunch only; (7) once for dinner only; and (8) never eating alone. The presence of MetS has been defined by the National Cholesterol Education Program Adult Treatment Panel III (NCEP ATP III) and International Diabetes Federation (IDF). Multivariable logistic regression analyses were performed to assess the association between patterns of eating alone versus the risk of MetS after controlling for age, income, occupation, number of family members, generation types, marital status, smoking status, and physical activity. The prevalence of MetS was the highest in men and women aged 40–64 who had breakfast, lunch, and dinner alone (50.1% and 36.8%, respectively). Men who had dinner alone or lunch and dinner alone compared with those who eat with others had a significantly higher risk of MetS, with adjusted odds ratios (AOR) of 1.51, and a 95% confidence interval (CI) of 1.06–2.16; and an AOR of 1.54, with a 95% CI of 1.05–2.25, respectively. Women who had breakfast alone compared with those who ate with others had a significantly lower risk of MetS (AOR 0.70, 95% CI 0.53–0.94). In conclusion, patterns of eating alone are differentially associated with the risk of MetS in a representative sample of Korean adults. Future studies are warranted to identify dietary patterns across the different eating alone patterns in relation to various health outcomes in Korean adult populations.

Relationship between socio-demographics, body composition, emotional state, and social support on metabolic syndrome risk among adults in rural Mongolia

“…In previous studies, it was found that the sense of belonging as a community and a high level of social support promote physical and psychological health because they provides a sense of emotional stability in relationships among residents [ 23 ]. The finding that social support within the community affects the improvement of health outcomes (e.g., individual health level, well-being, and quality of life) are consistently supported by various studies [ 2 , 19 , 20 , 23 ]. In particular, the higher the level of emotional and informational support, the higher the confidence and competence in personal health management [ 23 , 42 , 55 ].…”

“…It has also been reported that the risk of MetS increases when one’s socioeconomic level and educational level are low [ 8 , 14 ], when one smokes [ 15 ], frequently binge drinks [ 16 ], and does less physical activity [ 17 , 18 ]. Recent studies [ 19 – 23 ] have emphasized the importance of understanding both psychosocial factors and physical characteristics. In particular, it was found that emotional states such as stress and depression, health-related lifestyle habits such as regular exercise, and environmental factors such as social support also affect the prevalence of MetS.…”

Refeições conectadas: a prática da comensalidade remota em adultos brasileiros que moram sozinhos

“…No Brasil, há um aumento progressivo da quantidade de pessoas morando sozinhas, atingindo o número de 11,7 milhões de adultos em 2019, acompanhado pelo aprofundamento do processo de urbanização (IBGE, 2019). Tais processos têm sido explorados por parte da comunidade acadêmica a partir de hipóteses que o associam com o aumento do número de doenças de saúde mental, como aumento do estresse, sintomas depressivos (KIM, 2021;KWON et al, 2018;CHUNG;SHIN, 2018).…”

Household-Specific Physical Activity Levels and Energy Intakes According to the Presence of Metabolic Syndrome in Korean Young Adults: Korean National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey 2016‒2018

“…Some previous studies reported that eating alone was associated with various health problems. Eating alone was related to a reduced calorie intake and a less-varied diet 8,9 , and it could be a direct risk factor for Mets 10 .…”