ScienceDaily (Jan. 9, 2007) — Families whose meals frequently consist of fast food are more likely to have unhealthy eating habits, poor access to healthy foods at home, and a higher risk for obesity, according to researchers at the University of Minnesota Medical School.

The study is part of Project EAT: Eating Among Teens, a comprehensive study of obesity and nutrition among adolescents in the Minneapolis/St. Paul metro area. It was designed to examine the prevalence of fast food purchases for family meals and the association between eating fast food for dinner and home food availability, dietary intake, and weight status. Out of the 4,746 adolescents that completed surveys for Project EAT, 902 were also selected to have their parents interviewed for this study.

Fifty-one percent of families surveyed reported eating fast food as a family meal one to two times a week. Seven percent said they had fast food for dinner three to four times a week.