In a recent study published in BMC Public Health , researchers examine the subjective experience and eating habits of elderly Swedish individuals who primarily eat their meals alone. Study: The impact of eating alone on food intake and everyday eating routines: A cross-sectional study of community-living 70- to 75-year-olds in Sweden. Image Credit: Rawpixel.
com / Shutterstock.com The health benefits of commensality Eating is essential for survival, health, and human social organization. Previous research has identified several benefits of eating in company, which has prompted public health policymakers of many countries to advise their citizens to share meals when possible.
This advice stems from studies investigating a concept called ‘commensality,’ which has been observed to improve both physiological and psychosocial outcomes, particularly in individuals 60 years or older. Unfortunately, most of this research objectively operationalizes the abstract concept of commensality, thereby introducing many theoretical and empirical issues. A key limitation is the failure to consider individual differences in the subjective perception or feeling of eating alone.
Although some individuals may feel lonely or lose interest in cooking and eating, others remain unaffected. Most published literature fails to explore the subjective aspects of commensality and instead focuses solely on its measurable outcomes like physical and mental health. The Swedish population presents an ideal stu.