Eating with someone you love could do more than make mealtimes more enjoyable, as new research suggests companionship may help the body control blood sugar.
Eating with loved ones has major health benefits
Scientists found that people who ate a standardised carbohydrate meal alongside their partners experienced smaller blood sugar spikes and returned to normal levels faster than those who ate alone.
The study, led by researchers from the Hebrew University of Jerusalem and published in Science Advances, suggests the effect could be explained by “social physiology”.
The theory proposes that the human body regulates itself more efficiently when people are close to those they care about.
Professor Shir Atzil, the study’s lead author, said: “We used to think of the body as an isolated system that regulates itself.
“Our findings show that human physiology is inherently social. Being close to someone you love lowers the physical energy your body spends on regulating itself.”
The effects appeared to extend beyond blood sugar.
Researchers found that social proximity also improved participants’ ability to regulate body temperature during exposure to cold and reduced stress responses in both adults and infants.
Importantly, the benefits were seen even when people did not touch each other, and the researchers said reduced stress alone could not explain the findings.
The results add to previous research linking companionship with better blood sugar regulation.
A 2023 study published in the British Medical Journal found adults aged 50 and over who lived with partners had lower average glucose levels than those living alone, regardless of whether their relationships were harmonious or strained.
Meanwhile, research from Spanish universities in 2021 found teenagers who regularly shared family meals without digital devices and with relaxed conversation were better able to recognise when they were full.
That may help protect against overeating and obesity.
Professor Atzil said: “Blood sugar regulation is not just about what we eat, but who we eat with.
“Our relationships have an active biological role in our physical wellbeing.”
The researchers stressed that social closeness is not a replacement for medical care, healthy eating or exercise.
But they said the findings suggest the people around us could play a more important role in physical health than previously recognised.
So the next time you sit down for dinner, inviting someone along could potentially benefit more than just your appetite.
