Association of Family Meals and Prediabetes Among South Korean Adults Without Diabetes

INTRODUCTION: Prediabetes is a reversible yet often overlooked condition that represents a critical window for early intervention. Family meal practices may support effective disease management during this stage. In this study, we aimed to investigate the association between family meal practices and the prevalence of prediabetes among South Korean adults. METHODS: Data from the 2019-2023 Korea National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey were analyzed. Family meal practices were defined as sharing at least one meal (breakfast, lunch, or dinner) with family members three or more times per week. Prediabetes was defined as fasting glucose levels of 100-125 mg/dL or glycated hemoglobin of 5.7%-6.4%. Sex-stratified multivariable logistic regression analyses were performed, adjusting for covariates. RESULTS: Among 16,957 adults without diabetes (6907 men and 10,050 women), the prevalence of prediabetes was 49.1% in men and 42.3% in women. Men who participated in family meals had 16% lower odds of prediabetes (odds ratio [OR]: 0.84, 95% confidence interval [CI]: 0.73-0.97) compared with men who did not, whereas the association was not significant for women (OR: 0.97, 95% CI: 0.84-1.11). Among men, this association tended to be more pronounced in socioeconomic subgroups characterized by urban residence, higher household income, higher educational level, white-collar occupations, and married status. CONCLUSIONS: Regular participation in family meals was associated with a lower prevalence of prediabetes among South Korean adult men without diabetes. This finding may help identify population subgroups that could benefit from targeted lifestyle-based interventions for diabetes prevention.