Less Television, More Gathering Around Dinner Table Prevents Kids From Becoming Overweight: "Sitting down to a family meal more often and cutting down on television watching can help keep children from becoming overweight, according to a new University of Missouri-Columbia study.
After following 8,000 children from kindergarten to third grade, researchers concluded that kids who watched the most TV were at the greatest risk of being or becoming overweight. Children who ate fewer meals with their families also were at risk for becoming overweight.
'Other research has shown that children who eat meals with their families eat more healthy foods than children who don't eat as many meals with their families,' said Sara Gable, associate professor of human development and family studies in the MU College of Human Environmental Studies. 'I suspect there are other benefits of family meal times that protect children from developing some of the habits that could lead to weight problems.'"
