Do family meals affect childhood overweight or obesity?: nationwide survey 2008-2012

Pediatr Obes. 2016 Jun;11(3):161-5. doi: 10.1111/ijpo.12035. Epub 2015 Jun 10.

Abstract

Background: The prevalence of childhood obesity is increasing worldwide and this trend is no exception for South Korea. A multidisciplinary approach is needed for the prevention and management of childhood obesity. To do so, among many other strategies, managing the family unit can be a very effective strategy.

Objectives: The purpose of this study was to identify the relationship between frequency of family meals and overweight/obesity in elementary students and to suggest the management and prevention strategies of childhood obesity.

Methods: Data from a total of 2904 elementary students were analyzed from the 2008-2012 Korea National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey. Multiple logistic regression analysis was used to examine the association between overweight/obesity and family meals.

Results: Of the total 2904 elementary students, 573 (19.4%) were overweight or obese. The odds ratio of overweight or obese students who had family dinner only was 1.21 (95% CI: 0.89-1.64), that of those who had family breakfast only was 3.20 (95% CI: 1.70-6.02), and that of those who had neither family breakfast nor family dinner was 4.17 (95% CI: 1.98-8.78) compared with those who had both family breakfast and family dinner.

Conclusions: The frequency of family meals was strongly an inverse association with childhood overweight or obesity. Therefore, we suggest that the intervention of childhood obesity should include family meals.

Keywords: Elementary students; family meals; overweight or obesity.

MeSH terms

  • Breakfast
  • Child
  • Cross-Sectional Studies
  • Family / psychology*
  • Feeding Behavior
  • Female
  • Humans
  • Male
  • Meals / psychology*
  • Nutrition Surveys*
  • Overweight / epidemiology*
  • Overweight / psychology
  • Pediatric Obesity / epidemiology*
  • Pediatric Obesity / prevention & control
  • Pediatric Obesity / psychology
  • Republic of Korea / epidemiology
  • Students