Tufts University. US: Eating meals together as a family can help
steer teenagers away from depression, eating disorders, drug use and other problems,
according to an analysis by public health
researchers at Tufts.
For the analysis, published in the
Journal
of Youth and Adolescence
, the researchers looked at the results of 18 studies on
adolescents and their mealtime habits, and
found benefits for teenagers—particularly
girls—who ate with their families at least
five times a week.
Margie Skeer, Sc.D., an assistant profes
-
sor of public health and community medicine
at Tufts School of Medicine, said it probably
doesn’t matter what the meals consist of,
as long as there is time for talking.
“Mealtimes can provide for a baseline
level of communication, during which
parents (and guardians) can learn about the
everyday aspects of their children’s lives—
both important and ordinary,” she told
Tufts
Now
.
Besides showing children that they
are a priority, it sets up a comfort zone for
talking about more serious topics, such as
drugs and alcohol. And, Skeer says, everyday encounters make it easier for parents to
notice changes in behaviors, friendships or
grades that may signal bigger problems.
While the research suggests that
families try to eat at least five meals
together every week, Skeer says even
eating together fewer times appears to
benefit teens. And if sitting down for
dinner just isn’t possible, finding 30
minutes to talk in the car could work.