http://medicalxpress.com/ en-us Medical Xpress internet news portal provides the latest news on Health and Medicine. When low-income families devote three to four extra minutes to regular family mealtimes, their children's ability to achieve and maintain a normal weight improves measurably, according to a new University of Illinois study. http://medicalxpress.com/news/2013-01-minutes-day-low-income-families-kids.html Health Thu, 17 Jan 2013 17:31:48 EST news277666295 Regular family meals round a table boosts kids' fruit and vegetable intake, and make it easier for them to reach the recommended five portions a day, indicates research published online in the Journal of Epidemiology and Community Health. http://medicalxpress.com/news/2012-12-regular-family-meals-boost-kids.html Health Wed, 19 Dec 2012 18:30:03 EST news275158233 (Medical Xpress)—After Hurricane Sandy's flood waters have receded and homes demolished by the storm repaired, the unseen aftershocks of the storm may linger for many children who were in the storm's path, particularly those whose families suffered significant losses. http://medicalxpress.com/news/2012-11-children-teens-emotional-impact-hurricane.html Psychology & Psychiatry Wed, 07 Nov 2012 07:04:21 EST news271494255 (Medical Xpress)—A shared meal has consistently been valued for its social and health benefits—it's recognized as a door to academic excellence and as the ceremonial event that helps cement family relationships, no matter how you define "family." However, a new study co-authored by Boston University School of Social Work Assistant Professor Daniel P. Miller has found that the perceived benefits may not be as strong as once thought. http://medicalxpress.com/news/2012-09-family-meals-difference-child-academics.html Pediatrics Mon, 24 Sep 2012 08:22:19 EST news267693727 In a tight economy, with fewer jobs, many people end up working harder and sacrificing more to stay employed. A new study finds that one of those sacrifices is sometimes their own and their family's nutrition. http://medicalxpress.com/news/2012-06-parents-work-life-stress-hinders-healthy.html Health Fri, 22 Jun 2012 14:01:04 EST news259592263 "Come and get it!" A phrase historically proclaiming that the communal meal is ready, is heard all too infrequently among contemporary American households, especially as children get older. Indeed, over 40% of the typical American food budget is spent on eating out, with family meals often being relegated to holidays and special occasions. Aside from negative effects on the family budget, eating out has been shown to be generally associated with poor food choices and bad health. Of particular interest to public health experts is growing scientific evidence that fewer family meals may translate to increased obesity risk and poor nutritional status, especially among children. But getting this message out to busy parents in a way that will convince them to spend more time at the dining room table with their children is problematic at best. http://medicalxpress.com/news/2012-04-additional-evidence-families-healthiest.html Health Mon, 23 Apr 2012 16:50:01 EST news254397915 Teenage girls gained less weight, improved their body image, ate less fast food, and had more family meals after participating in a 6- month program that involved weekly peer meetings, consultations with primary care providers and separate meetings for parents. Those results from a study published online today in the journal Pediatrics. http://medicalxpress.com/news/2012-02-primary-obese-teen-girls-weight.html Health Mon, 13 Feb 2012 04:00:01 EST news248325848 As children become teenagers, it may be more challenging to regularly include them in family meals, but doing so is key to heading off such problems as eating disorders, obesity, and inadequate nutrition in adolescence, said Barbara Fiese, a University of Illinois professor of human development and family studies and director of the U of I's Family Resiliency Center. http://medicalxpress.com/news/2011-07-family-meals-important-teen-years.html Health Tue, 12 Jul 2011 16:37:42 EST news229706271 This Father's Day, dad's choice of where to eat could literally tip the scales on his children's health. http://medicalxpress.com/news/2011-06-children-eschew-fat-dads-arent.html Health Thu, 09 Jun 2011 12:00:04 EST news226839570