The research team explained that those eating alone tend to rely more on less healthy food that can expedite the chance of obesity. (image: Yonhap)
SEOUL, Nov. 14 (Korea Bizwire) — Eating alone can lead to higher chance of obesity than eating with family members, a recent study has revealed.
A research team led by Prof. Jang Seong-in from Yonsei University Severance Hospital conducted a study on 13,303 participants to observe the correlation between a participant’s Body Mass Index (BMI) and whether the participant ate alone or with other people.
The study showed that participants eating alone had average BMIs 0.39 points higher than those who typically ate with others.
This means that people eating alone weigh an average of 1.2 kilograms more than those who eat with family members.
The gap became more evident among lone eaters in their twenties, with BMI scores as much as 1.15 points higher than those who ate with others.
The gap was also significant among those in their 30s, where those eating alone had BMIs that were 0.78 points higher than those who ate with others.
The research team explained that those eating alone tend to rely more on less healthy food that can expedite the chance of obesity.
“The BMI gap widening by as much as 1.15 points among the twenties age group means that an average individual 170 centimeters tall who eats alone tends to weigh 3.1 kilograms more than someone who eats with others,” said Jang.
“This provides some grounds to prove that people who eat alone tend to rely more on food that is nutritionally out of balance.”
The results were published on the journal Public Health Nutrition on October 30.
Ashley Song (ashley@koreabizwire.com)
