Health Indicator Report of Family Meals
A number of studies indicate that eating meals as a family is associated with increased consumption of fruits, vegetables, and whole grains. Adolescents who eat more meals with their families may have lower consumption of sugar-sweetened beverages and have a lower body mass index (BMI) than their counterparts who eat fewer meals with their family. Caregivers who encourage family meals may model healthier eating habits for their children.
There is no statistically significant differences between weight category and family meals eaten together.
Family Meals by Obesity, Utah, 2015
Notes
The question was only asked to adults in households with children under the age of 18. Age-adjusted to 2000 U.S. standard population.Data Source
Utah Data: Behavioral Risk Factor Surveillance System, Office of Public Health Assessment, Utah Department of HealthDefinition
The percentage of adults who live in households where family members ate meals together at least five or more times in the past seven daysNumerator
Number of adults who live in households where family members ate meals together at least five or more times in the past seven daysDenominator
All adults in households with children under the age of 18Other Objectives
This question supports the efforts of the State Health Improvement Plan which intends to unite the work of Utah Public Health System through collective effort with all 13 local health departments. Goal 1 is "Utahns are Eating Healthy and Living Active Lives" with the Strategy 2 "Promote Health Family Meals."How Are We Doing?
The question was first asked in the 2013 BRFSS. At that time 69.7% adults reported eating family meals together more than 5 times a week. In 2015 BRFSS, 63.3% of adults reported eating family meals together more than 5 times a week.How Do We Compare With the U.S.?
This data is not available for the U.S.What Is Being Done?
Governor Gary Herbert declared September as Healthy Utah Family Meals Month. He declared it for the first time in 2014 and every subsequent year since. Local health departments are conducting an annual campaign to increase the number of meals family members eat together. EPICC created a video with Utah Lt. Governor Spencer Cox that shows him in his home preparing and eating a meal with his family. Please see [https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=i8TbyF4aN9Y].
Page Content Updated On 09/07/2017,
Published on 09/07/2017
