HHS HealthBeat (June 29, 2009)

Family meals with teens

From the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, I’m Ira Dreyfuss with HHS HealthBeat.

Researchers who looked at data on 700 Minnesota teens say those who had five or more meals a week with the family in their early teenage years had healthier eating habits five years later.

University of Minnesota researcher Teri Burgess-Champoux:

"Parents definitely have a strong influence over shaping the eating habits of their children and adolescents, and so it’s really important for parents to realize that this influence extends beyond childhood."  (13 seconds)

Scheduling can be a problem. But Burgess-Champoux suggests being creative – for instance, when dinners don’t work, try breakfasts.

The study in the Journal of Nutrition Education and Behavior was supported by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention and the Health Resources and Services Administration.

Learn more at hhs.gov.

HHS HealthBeat is a production of the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services. I’m Ira Dreyfuss.

Last revised: June, 30 2009