Definition

The percentage of adults who live in households where family members ate meals together 5 or more times in the past 7 days

Numerator

Number of adults who live in households where family members ate meals together 5 or more times in the past 7days

Denominator

Adults in households with children under the age of 18.

Data Interpretation Issues

This question was changed for the 2023 BRFSS so that adults who live alone but still have regular meals with others could be identified. BRFSS query is called "Number of Times in the Week You Ate Together as a Family.' Note the denominator will change with 2023 data. It includes all households.

Why Is This Important?

Many studies indicate that eating meals as a family is associated with increased consumption of fruits, vegetables, and whole grains. Regularly eating meals as a family may lead to better mental health and connectedness.

Other Objectives

This question supports the efforts of the [https://healthassessment.utah.gov/uhip/ State Health Improvement Plan 2017-2020], which intends to unite the work of the Utah Public Health System through a collective effort with all 13 local health departments.

How Are We Doing?

The question about family meals was first asked as a state-added question on the 2013 BRFSS. At that time 69.8% of adults reported eating family meals together more than 5 times a week. In 2023, 65.4% of adults reported eating family meals together more than 5 times a week (age-adjusted rates).

What Is Being Done?

In 2014, Governor Gary Herbert declared September as Healthy Utah Family Meals Month and was renewed in 2022. Local health departments, with support of the HEAL program, have conducted campaigns to increase the number of meals family members eat together.[[br]] [[br]] ---- [[br]] The Utah Department of Health and Human Services Healthy Environments Active Living (HEAL) Program plays a key role in improving the health of residents in the state of Utah. The program was formed in July 2013 (as Healthy Living through Environment, Policy, and Improved Clinical Care: EPICC), through a new funding opportunity from the Centers of Disease Control and Prevention (CDC). This allowed for the merging of three previously existing programs: the Heart Disease and Stroke Prevention Program, the Diabetes Prevention and Control Program, and the Physical Activity, Nutrition and Obesity Program, as well as the addition of a school health program. HEAL was recently restructured as part of a strategic planning process. This new program model focuses on staff and partners working together to address the social determinants of health while advancing health equity and increasing policy, systems, and environmental changes. HEAL works: In schools:[[br]] HEAL encourages [https://heal.utah.gov/schools/ schools] to adopt the [https://www.cdc.gov/healthyschools/professional_development/e-learning/CSPAP/index.html/ Comprehensive School Physical Activity Program]. This framework encourages students to be physically active for 60 minutes a day through school, home, and community activities. HEAL also works with schools to apply the [https://www.cdc.gov/healthyschools/wscc/index.htm/ Whole School, Whole Community, Whole Child Model], which emphasizes the role of the community in supporting academic and health success for students. In worksites:[[br]] HEAL offers training on developing worksite wellness programs called Work@Health. HEAL partners with local health departments to encourage worksites to complete the CDC Scorecard and participate in yearly health risk assessments for their employees. HEAL provides toolkits and other resources for employers interested in implementing wellness programs at [https://heal.utah.gov/worksite-wellness/ Worksite Wellness]. In communities:[[br]] HEAL receives federal funding to partner with worksites, community-based organizations, and local health departments to increase access to [https://heal.utah.gov/nutrition/ fresh fruits and vegetables] in worksite and community settings. HEAL also partners with local health departments to work with cities and/or counties within their jurisdictions to foster a built environment that encourages [https://heal.utah.gov/physical-activity/ physical activity]. In healthcare:[[br]] HEAL works with health care systems to establish community clinical linkages to support individuals [https://heal.utah.gov/diabetes/ at risk for or diagnosed with diabetes] or hypertension to engage in lifestyle change programs such as chronic disease self-management and diabetes prevention programs. In childcare:[[br]] HEAL works with state and local partners through the Childcare Obesity Prevention workgroup to implement policy and systems changes in early care and education across agencies statewide. Ten local health departments statewide have implemented the [https://heal.utah.gov/top-star-providers/ TOP Star Program], which aims to improve the nutrition, physical activity, and breastfeeding policies and environments to achieve best practices in childcare centers and homes.

Available Services

The Healthy Environments Active Living (HEAL) Program promotes the sale of nutritious food in worksites and community sites. HEAL also promotes consumption of nutritious foods as early in life as possible by promoting breastfeeding. HEAL also supports childcare centers and schools as they adopt policies and practices for serving nutritious food. See [https://heal.utah.gov/nutrition].

Health Program Information

HEAL is a program within the Utah Department of Health and Human Services Office of Health Promotion and Prevention. HEAL focuses on enabling education and promoting change for public health by engaging its three main audiences: individuals, partners, and decision makers. HEAL champions public health initiatives and addresses the challenges of making health awareness and access truly universal and equitable in eight key areas: nutrition, heart health, diabetes, physical activity, schools, childcare, community health workers, and worksites. Staff from the HEAL Program work with healthcare providers, including diabetes educators, dietitians, pharmacists, community health centers, community health workers, worksites, and health plans to improve the care provided to Utahns across the state. [https://heal.utah.gov/about-us/ '''Overarching Goals''']:[[br]] Healthy People: Increase access to resources that empower all people in Utah to reach their full health potential. Healthy Communities: Increase the capacity of communities to support and promote healthy living for all individuals. Equitable Society: Increase opportunities for people who are under-resourced and under-represented in Utah to live healthy and thriving lives.

Relevant Population Characteristics

The percentage of Utah adults who consume the recommended amount of fruits and vegetables is low. A number of studies indicate that eating meals as a family is associated with increased consumption of fruits, vegetables, and whole grains. Adults who encourage family meals model healthier eating habits for their children. BRFSS data shows that in 2021, adults who ate 5 or more family meals together in a week were twice as likely to meet recommended fruit and vegetable consumption.

Health Status Outcomes

Frequency of family meals has been positively associated with intake of fruits and vegetables in adults, and negatively associated with sweets and sugar-sweetened beverages in adolescents. Family meals have been positively correlated with perceived family cohesion.[[br]] [[br]] ---- Welsh EM, French SA, Wall M. Examining the relationship between family meal frequency and individual dietary intake: does family cohesion play a role? J Nutr Educ Behav. 2011;43(4):229-35.

The percentage of adults who eat meals with their families five times a week or more has remained fairly consistent.

Data Notes

The question was only asked to adults in households with children under the age of 18 (approximately 40% of the sample).   [[br]][[br]]Crude rates

Data Source

Utah Department of Health and Human Services Behavioral Risk Factor Surveillance System (BRFSS) [https://ibis.utah.gov/ibisph-view/query/selection/brfss/BRFSSSelection.html]

The percentage of adults who eat meals with their families five times a week or more has remained fairly consistent.

Data Notes

The question was only asked to adults in households with children under the age of 18 (approximately 40% of the sample).   [[br]][[br]]Age-adjusted to 2000 U.S. standard population.

Data Source

Utah Department of Health and Human Services Behavioral Risk Factor Surveillance System (BRFSS) [https://ibis.utah.gov/ibisph-view/query/selection/brfss/BRFSSSelection.html]

Food insecurity is defined as always/usually/sometimes in the past 12 months being worried or stressed about having enough money to buy nutritious meals. In 2023, 65.4% of adults had family meals 5 or more times a week. However, only 55.9% of adults with food insecurity had family meals 5+ times per week, whereas 67.0% of adults without food insecurity had family meals 5+ times per week. Percentages are age-adjusted.

Data Notes

The question was only asked to adults in households with children under the age of 18 (approximately 40% of the sample).   [[br]][[br]]Age-adjusted to 2000 U.S. standard population.

Data Source

Utah Department of Health and Human Services Behavioral Risk Factor Surveillance System (BRFSS) [https://ibis.utah.gov/ibisph-view/query/selection/brfss/BRFSSSelection.html]

Data Notes

The question was only asked to adults in households with children under the age of 18 (approximately 40% of the sample).   Age-adjusted to 2000 U.S. standard population.

Data Source

Utah Department of Health and Human Services Behavioral Risk Factor Surveillance System (BRFSS) [https://ibis.utah.gov/ibisph-view/query/selection/brfss/BRFSSSelection.html]

There was no significant difference.

Data Notes

The question was only asked to adults in households with children under the age of 18 (approximately 40% of the sample).   Age-adjusted to 2000 U.S. standard population.

Data Source

Utah Department of Health and Human Services Behavioral Risk Factor Surveillance System (BRFSS) [https://ibis.utah.gov/ibisph-view/query/selection/brfss/BRFSSSelection.html]

Data Notes

The question was only asked to adults in households with children under the age of 18 (approximately 40% of the sample).   Age-adjusted to 2000 U.S. standard population.

Data Source

Utah Department of Health and Human Services Behavioral Risk Factor Surveillance System (BRFSS) [https://ibis.utah.gov/ibisph-view/query/selection/brfss/BRFSSSelection.html]

Females have higher rates of eating meals with a family 5 or more times a week than males.

Data Notes

The question was only asked to adults in households with children under the age of 18 (approximately 40% of the sample).   Age-adjusted to 2000 U.S. standard population.

Data Source

Utah Department of Health and Human Services Behavioral Risk Factor Surveillance System (BRFSS) [https://ibis.utah.gov/ibisph-view/query/selection/brfss/BRFSSSelection.html]

About 65% of adults reported eating a meal together as a family 5 or more times a week. The lowest percentage is in Wasatch County.

Data Notes

The question was only asked to adults in households with children under the age of 18 (approximately 40% of the sample).   Age-adjusted to 2000 U.S. standard population. * The percentage for San Juan County Health District does not meet Utah DHHS standards for reliability. Interpret with caution.

Data Source

Utah Department of Health and Human Services Behavioral Risk Factor Surveillance System (BRFSS) [https://ibis.utah.gov/ibisph-view/query/selection/brfss/BRFSSSelection.html]

References and community resources

MyPlate, MyWins for Families has tips for involving children and teens in family meals. See [https://www.choosemyplate.gov/families#kids]. Dwyer, L., Oh, A., Patrick, H., & Hennessy, E. (2015). Promoting family meals: a review of existing interventions and opportunities for future research. Adolescent Health, Medicine and Therapeutics, 6, 115-131. [http://doi.org/10.2147/AHMT.S37316] Hauser SI, Economos CD, Nelson ME, Goldberg JP, Hyatt RR, Naumova EN, et al. Household and family factors related to weight status in first through third graders: a cross-sectional study in Eastern Massachusetts. BMC Pediatr. 2014;14(1):1. Larson NI, Neumark-Sztainer D, Hannan PJ, Story M. Family meals during adolescence are associated with higher diet quality and healthful meal patterns during young adulthood. J Am Diet Assoc. 2007;107(9):1502-10. Rockett HRH. Family Dinner: More than Just a Meal. J Am Diet Assoc. 2007 Sep;107(9):1498-501. Welsh EM, French SA, Wall M. Examining the relationship between family meal frequency and individual dietary intake: does family cohesion play a role? J Nutr Educ Behav. 2011;43(4):229-35.