Are family meal patterns associated with overall diet quality during the transition from early to middle adolescence?
OBJECTIVE
To examine longitudinal associations of participation in regular family meals (>or= 5 meals/week) with eating habits and dietary intake during adolescence.


METHODS
Population-based, longitudinal study (Project EAT: Eating Among Teens). Surveys were completed in Minnesota classrooms at Time 1 (1998-1999) and by mail at Time 2 (2003-2004).


METHODS
Baseline surveys were completed in Minneapolis/St. Paul, Minnesota, schools and by mail at follow-up.


METHODS
677 adolescents (303 males and 374 females) who were in middle school at Time 1 (mean age = 12.8 +/- 0.74 years) and high school at Time 2 (mean age = 17.2 +/- 0.59 years).


METHODS
Dietary intake, frequency of meals, and fast-food intake patterns.


METHODS
Generalized linear modeling stratified by gender and adjusted for race/ethnicity, socioeconomic status, and the Time 1 outcome.


RESULTS
Regular family meals were positively associated with Time 2 frequency of breakfast, lunch, and dinner meals for males and breakfast and dinner meals for females. Among males, regular family meals were negatively associated with Time 2 fast-food intake. Regular family meals were also positively associated with Time 2 mean daily intakes of vegetables, calcium-rich food, fiber, calcium, magnesium, potassium, iron, zinc, folate, and vitamins A and B(6) among both genders.


CONCLUSIONS
Regular family meals during early adolescence may contribute to the formation of healthful eating habits 5 years later. Parents should be made aware of the importance of shared mealtime experiences.
Burgess-Champoux
Teri L
TL
Division of Epidemiology and Community Health, School of Public Health, University of Minnesota, Minneapolis, MN 55454, USA. tchampou@umn.edu
Larson
Nicole
N
Neumark-Sztainer
Dianne
D
Hannan
Peter J
PJ
Story
Mary
M
D000293:Adolescent; D000294:Adolescent Behavior / Q000523:psychology*; D002648:Child; D004032:Diet; D004435:Eating; D005190:Family / Q000523:psychology*; D005247:Feeding Behavior; D005260:Female; D015438:Health Behavior; D006801:Humans; D016014:Linear Models; D008137:Longitudinal Studies; D008297:Male; D008910:Minnesota; D015596:Nutrition Assessment; D017678:Sex Distribution