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Benefits of Family Mealtime Across the Growing Years: A Conceptual Model
Author(s) -
Martin-Biggers Jennifer T,
Berhaupt-Glickstein Amanda,
Worobey John,
Byrd-Bredbenner Carol
Publication year - 2012
Publication title -
the faseb journal
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 1.709
H-Index - 277
eISSN - 1530-6860
pISSN - 0892-6638
DOI - 10.1096/fasebj.26.1_supplement.815.10
Subject(s) - cinahl , psycinfo , obesity , environmental health , health promotion , meal , medicine , gerontology , promotion (chess) , psychology , public health , medline , psychological intervention , nursing , political science , pathology , politics , law
Aspects of the home environment, including family meals, are an understudied, yet critical factor in child health outcomes. A comprehensive literature review, based on the IOM's L.E.A.D. framework (Locate, Evaluate, and Assemble evidence to inform Decisions) was conducted to identify links between family meals (frequency and atmosphere) and health, development, and BMI outcomes and to use these findings to create a conceptual model expressing these links. Key search terms were family, meals, dinner, child(ren), youth, parent(s). A search of PubMed, CINAHL and PsycINFO yielded 68 articles. Evidence demonstrates that across the growing years, greater family meal frequency is associated with increased intake of dietary components related to improved health (i.e., fruits, vegetables, fiber, calcium‐rich foods, vitamins) and decreased intake of components experts recommend consuming in limited amounts (i.e., soft drinks). Increased family meal frequency was inversely related to negative health outcomes, such as depressive symptoms and disturbed eating behaviors. Evidence linking frequency of family meals to obesity risk is not conclusive, however youth in families that served family meals frequently tended to have lower BMIs. The conceptual model created in this study may be used by health promotion and nutrition professionals to visually convey to parents the value of family meals. Grant Funding Source : United States Department of Agriculture, National Institute of Food and Agriculture, Grant Number 2011‐68001‐30170