Association between the incidence of functional disability and frequency of eating together among older adults living alone: a 6-year follow-up study from the Japan Gerontological Evaluation Study.

This study investigated the association between the frequency of eating together and the incidence of functional disability among older adults living alone in Japan, using data from the Japan Gerontological Evaluation Study (JAGES) over six years. Among 7,167 participants aged 65 and older, those who reported "seldom" eating with others had a significantly higher risk of developing functional disabilities compared to those who ate together more frequently, even after adjusting for various health and sociodemographic factors. The increased risk was particularly notable among females, individuals aged 75 and older, and those with higher household incomes. The findings suggest that infrequent communal eating may contribute to functional decline, potentially through mechanisms involving reduced appetite, malnutrition, and frailty. The study highlights the importance of social eating opportunities for healthy aging but notes limitations including potential residual confounding and the observational design.