Science Advances statements
A new study found that eating with a loved one, compared with eating alone, limited the post-meal rise in blood sugar and helped levels return to normal more quickly. The study by researchers at the Hebrew University of Jerusalem was published Wednesday in the peer-reviewed journal Science Advances. The findings were explained through the concept of “social physiology,” which holds that the body regulates itself more effectively in the presence of people who feel close to us.
Process and steps
Social closeness was also found to help people exposed to cold regulate their body temperature and to reduce stress responses in adults and infants. The fact that the effects were observed even without physical contact showed that the results could not be explained solely by reduced stress.
British Medical calendar
The findings are consistent with a study published in the British Medical Journal in 2023 that found lower average glucose levels among adults aged 50 and over who lived with a partner. A 2021 study by the Open University of Catalonia and the Autonomous University of Barcelona also showed that eating regular meals with family helped adolescents recognize their feelings of satiety. The researchers noted that social closeness was not a substitute for medical care, nutrition or exercise.