Food Culture in the Home Environment: Family Meal Practices and Values Can Support Healthy Eating and Self-Regulation in Young People in Four European Countries

Findings on the relationship between family meal frequency and children's nutritional health are inconsistent. The reasons for these mixed results have to date remained largely unexplored. This systematic review and meta-analysis of 57 studies (203,706 participants) examines (i) the relationship between family meal frequency and various nutritional health outcomes and (ii) two potential explanations for the inconsistent findings: sociodemographic characteristics and mealtime characteristics. Separate meta-analyses revealed significant associations between higher family meal frequency and better overall diet quality (r = 0.13), more healthy diet (r = 0.10), less unhealthy diet (r = -0.04) and lower body mass index, BMI (r = -0.05). Child's age, country, number of family members present at meals and meal type (i.e. breakfast, lunch or dinner) did not moderate the relationship of meal frequency with healthy diet, unhealthy diet or BMI. Socioeconomic status only moderated the relationship with BMI. The findings show a significant relationship between frequent family meals and better nutritional health - in younger and older children, across countries and socioeconomic groups, and for meals taken with the whole family vs. one parent. Building on these findings, research can now target the causal direction of the relationship between family meal frequency and nutritional health.

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“…However, effect sizes differ, and some studies failed to find significant links (e.g. (21) for fruits and vegetables, (22) for soft drinks).…”

Section: Relationship Between Family Meals and Nutritional Healthmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…children with cystic fibrosis or diabetes) and (iii) the study reported insufficient statistics to calculate an effect size. Using these criteria, we arrived at a total of 57 studies (13)(14)(15)(16)(17)(18)(19)(20)(21)(22)38,.…”

Section: Literature Search and Study Selectionmentioning

confidence: 99%

The frequency of family meals and nutritional health in children: a meta‐analysis

2018

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“…What little research that has been conducted, has focused on body size perceptions, [8][9][10] acculturation, 11,12 and behavioural differences within or across societies. 13,14 There are also many other cultural differences, which are less obviously related to obesity, and these may apply at the macro, or national, level. In the early 80s, Geert Hofstede introduced a framework of national cultural dimensions as a way of capturing the different cultural approaches to dealing with some basic social dilemmas such as distributing power and balancing individual versus collective needs.…”

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confidence: 99%

Dimensions of national culture associated with different trajectories of male and female mean body mass index in countries over 25 years

et al. 2019

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Summary Cultural determinants of obesity prevalence have been little studied but could explain significant variations in body mass index (BMI) trajectories among countries. This ecological study quantified longitudinal associations between six dimensions of national culture and mean population BMI over 25 years. National mean male and female BMI data 1990 to 2014 provided dependent variables. National dimensions of culture (from the Hofstede database for up to 87 countries) were independent variables: Individualism, Uncertainty avoidance, Indulgence, Long‐term orientation, Power distance, and Masculinity. Analyses used mixed models for repeated measures for each dimension of national culture with male and female adult BMI trajectories, controlling for confounders. A higher mean BMI was significantly associated with higher Individualism, Uncertainty avoidance, Indulgence, and Masculine orientation and with lower Power distance (males only) and lower Long‐term orientation (males only). Overall, the national cultural dimensions explained 62.4% (males) and 53.5% (females) of the variance in mean BMI among countries. National cultural characteristics, especially Individualism and Uncertainty avoidance, are strongly related to obesity prevalence, explaining over half of the variance among countries. More research and theory development is needed to understand the pathways for these associations so that cultural contexts can be better accounted for in policies, social marketing messages, and community‐based actions for obesity prevention.

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“…According to these studies, a family mealtime surpasses the field of sensory experiences with food and in favor of a normal BMI and healthy eating habits (greater intake of FV, proteins, sources of calcium and lower consumption of sweets and sugar-sweetened beverages), family bonding and self-regulation of the appetite. 8,21,18,7,20,19,12,17 …”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…Wit et al 21 also found a better self-regulation of appetite and healthier eating habits among adolescents aged 10 to 17-year-olds who have family meals more frequently, thus, the mean of sharing in general was two daily meals (breakfast and dinner) for at least 3 days during the week. Larson's et al, 12 study found that adolescents who shared meals more frequently continue to consume more FV and dairy products until 10 years after the initial assessment.…”

Section: Impact On the Food Qualitymentioning

confidence: 95%

Does family mealtime have a protective effect on obesity and good eating habits in young people? A 2000-2016 review

Tosatti¹,

Ribeiro²,

Machado³

et al. 2017

Rev. Bras. Saude Mater. Infant.

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Food Culture in the Home Environment: Family Meal Practices and Values Can Support Healthy Eating and Self-Regulation in Young People in Four European Countries

Cited by 29 publications

References 43 publications

The frequency of family meals and nutritional health in children: a meta‐analysis

The frequency of family meals and nutritional health in children: a meta‐analysis

Dimensions of national culture associated with different trajectories of male and female mean body mass index in countries over 25 years

Does family mealtime have a protective effect on obesity and good eating habits in young people? A 2000-2016 review

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