How many times in a week that you (as a family) have fast food for meals? Once? Twice? Thrice a week?

Families who ate fast food for dinner more than three times a week (consisted of more chips and soda pop and less fruits and vegetables) are at higher risk of obesity and higher body mass index (BMI) as adults than families who ate fast food less than three times a week.

That's according to a study at the University of Minnesota medical school, published in the January 2007 issue of Public Health Nutrition.

According to Kerri Boutelle, Ph.D., lead author and assistant professor of pediatrics at the University of Minnesota Medical School:

"Fast food can be a convenient alternative to cooking for busy families. But, frequently making fast food a family meal can negatively affect food choices in the house and the overall health of the family."

The study (supported by the Maternal and Child Health Program, Health Resources and Services Administration, and the Department of Health and Human Services) is part of Project EAT: Eating Among Teens.

Project EAT is a comprehensive study of obesity and nutrition among adolescents in the Minneapolis/St. Paul metro area, which was designed to examine the prevalence of fast food purchases for family meals and the association between eating fast food for dinner and home food availability, dietary intake, and weight status.

Read the full report.