Family meal frequency and its association with food consumption and nutritional status in adolescents: A systematic review

Abstract

This systematic review evaluated the association between frequency of family meals (FFM) and nutritional status (NS) and/or food consumption (FC) in adolescents. The protocol was registered with PROSPERO (CRD42017062180) and followed the Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Reviews and Meta-Analyses guidelines. No publication date, language, or meal type restrictions were imposed. Only full-text original articles were included; qualitative studies were excluded. Studies were identified by searching 5 electronic databases (PubMed, Web of Science, Scopus, BVS Brazil, and Adolec) and gray literature (Google Scholar) and by scanning reference lists of included articles. Risk of bias was assessed using the Newcastle-Ottawa scale for cohort and cross-sectional studies. Initial search yielded 2001 results and 47 articles were included. An updated literature search added 3 articles. Of the 50 studies included, 25 studied the association between FFM and NS, 32 investigated the association between FFM and FC, being that seven studies analyzed both outcomes. Thirty-four were cross-sectional studies, 12 were longitudinal studies, and 4 studies analyzed both cross-sectional and longitudinal data. Thirty-five studies were rated as having good quality, whereas 19 were of fair quality. Sample size ranged from 140 to 102 072 participants. Most investigations evaluated the frequency of breakfast, lunch, and/or dinner/supper/evening meals over a 1-week period. Seventeen studies identified a positive relationship between high FFM and better NS, and 26 found a positive association between high FFM and better FC. In conclusion, this review showed an association between FFM and healthy dietary patterns, such as increased consumption of fruits and vegetables. Further research is needed to understand the association between FFM and NS, since some studies showed a protective role of family meals against obesity in this age group, whereas other studies identified no significant association between these variables.

Food Consumption Patterns of Male and Female Undergraduate Students in Indonesia During New Normal Implementation of Pandemic Covid-19 Era

“…Hence, a balanced nutritional pattern can create a robust immune foundation. Rhaisa et al [16] revealed that staple foods containing carbohydrates are often consumed and have been part of Indonesia's culture for a long time. Carbohydrates are one of the primary sources of energy for the body.…”

“…Briawan et al [22] explained in their research that most adolescents 15-24 years had not met their fluid needs according to the recommendation to drink eight glasses of water per day. Students' lack of drinking water frequency is because teenagers currently only consume water when thirsty [16]. The impact of lack of fluids on the body is fatigue and makes the body weak and loses focus and lowers the body's metabolic conditions [22].…”

The Project Collection Food, Nutrition and Health, with a Focus on Eating Together

“…Current discussion around commensality within households tends to focus on the location where people choose to eat, for example, in front of the TV or at the table, and whether the change of location leads to nutritionally unfavorable food choices or not [31]. Food choice in regards to eating together or alone has not been extensively studied, but some publications have pointed to a risk of less healthy meals among older adults who have become widowed [24] and thus may eat alone, and several to associations between family-meal participation frequency and food intake among children [32]. There are also examples of evidence to the contrary, with less healthy choices of food and drink sometimes occurring when eating together, for example during weekends, enjoying extra meals for their aesthetic pleasure, or having meals just to keep company, as indicated by the latest National Food Survey in Sweden [33], or during workplace breaks [34,35].…”

How does food literacy affect fruit and vegetable consumption among Canadian adolescents?

“…Socio economic status was explored in 13 studies (Bau et al, 2011;Chartatos et al, 2018;Fleary et al, 2018;Ghasab et al, 2017;Gracey et al, 1996;Nagy-Pénzes et al, 2020;Park et al, 2013;Pearson et al, 2020;Pitel et al, 2013;Sichert-Hellert et al, 2011;Souza Santos et al, 2019;Tarabashkina et al, 2016;Videon & Manning, 2003) and the home learning environment in 10 studies (Brooks & Begley, 2014;do Amaral e Melo et al, 2020;Garrido-Fernández et al, 2020;Hanson et al, 2004;Lake et al, 2004;Mokhtari et al, 2017;Orehek & Ferrer, 2018;Sanchez et al, 2007;Utter et al, 2013;Videon & Manning, 2003). Bailey, et al (2019).…”

“…Four of the six knowledge synthesis studies applied frameworks; PRISMA (n=4/28) (Bailey et al, 2019;do Amaral e Melo et al, 2020;Fleary et al, 2018;Vaitkeviciute et al, 2014) and PICOS (n=1/28) (Bailey et al, 2019).…”