Correlation of family meals with health and food intake frequency among preschoolers in Japan

Abstract

Objective: This study aimed to examine the correlation of family meals with health and food intake frequency among preschoolers in Japan

Methods: The cross-sectional designed study based on the secondary analysis was conducted using data from the National Nutrition Survey on Preschool Children in 2015 conducted by the Ministry of Health, Labour and Welfare, Japan. Of 2,623 participants with children aged 2–6 years, we analyzed 2,456 participants with valid answers. Based on the answers about whom they usually ate breakfast and dinner with, participants were categorized into two or three groups. Binary logistic regression analysis was performed using the family meal group as an independent variable and health and food intake frequency as dependent variables adjusted for demographic variables.

Results: Over half of the study sample comprised boys, the average age of children’s mothers was 35.4 years, and 56.4% of mothers were working. The three groups based on family meals were as follows: “eat both breakfast and dinner with all family members” (n=417, group A); “eat both breakfast and dinner with not all members but adults” (n=1,426, group B)”; and “eat with only children or alone” (n=613, group C). Children in groups A and B, who ate both meals with adults, were less likely to have tooth decay, more likely to eat fish, eggs, soybean products, fruits, dairy every day, and less likely to drink sweetened drinks every day.

Conclusion: Eating meals with not all family members but with adults correlated with no tooth decay and better food intake among preschool children.