Eating alone linked to smaller brain volumes and depression, studies suggest

People who share more meals with others report greater life satisfaction and more positive emotions about healthy eating, the focus is usually on what's on our plates: protein, vegetables, sugar and salt. But research in recent years has turned attention to another factor: who sits around the table. Studies suggest that whether we eat alone or with others is associated not only with our mood and the quality of our diet, but potentially even with the structure of our brains. The age-old practice of eating together is known in scientific research as commensality. The BBC recently reviewed several studies linking shared meals to better psychological and social well-being. While the findings do not prove that eating with others can prevent depression or dementia, they suggest that the social setting in which we eat deserves greater attention as a factor in our health.