Sharing a meal with other people may offer more than good food and conversation. Research suggests that eating together can support mental wellbeing and may also benefit brain health.
Scientists call the practice commensality. It simply means sharing food with other people.
Research has linked regular shared meals with lower levels of depression and stronger social connections. Some studies also suggest that eating with others may help protect the brain as we age.
Why eating together matters
Sharing food has been part of human life for thousands of years. Meals give people a chance to talk, connect and build trust.
Jan-Emmanuel De Neve, a professor of economics and behavioural science at the University of Oxford, says shared meals play an important role in human relationships.
Research supports that idea.
A study involving more than 9,000 women aged 60 and above in China found a connection between shared meals and depression risk. Women who ate with more people tended to show better mental wellbeing.
The researchers considered other factors that can affect mental health. These included general health, wealth and whether participants lived alone.
Another study in Japan found a similar pattern. Older adults who lived with their families but regularly ate alone had higher odds of developing depressive symptoms.
Shared meals may improve wellbeing
Researchers have also studied the relationship between eating together and overall happiness.
The 2024 World Happiness Report included questions about how often people ate lunch or dinner with someone they knew.
Researchers examined responses from about 150,000 people around the world.
They found a strong link between shared meals and emotional wellbeing. People who regularly ate with others tended to report greater life satisfaction.
De Neve said shared meals may partly reflect a person’s wider social life. However, he believes eating together may offer additional benefits.
Food may also help strengthen social bonds.
Robin Dunbar, a biological anthropologist at the University of Oxford, has suggested that eating can stimulate the release of endorphins. These natural chemicals are associated with pleasure and social bonding.
Eating with others can make food more enjoyable
Sharing a meal may even change how people experience food.
Research by Erica Boothby at the University of Pennsylvania found that people enjoyed chocolate more when they ate it with another person.
That suggests social interaction can influence the pleasure we get from eating.
The effect may explain why meals are often central to celebrations, family gatherings and social events.
Could shared meals protect the brain?
Scientists are also exploring a possible connection between eating alone and brain health.
Japanese researchers reported in 2025 that people who regularly ate alone had smaller brain volumes in several areas linked to cognitive function.
The researchers noted that diet could explain part of the difference. People who eat alone may also be more likely to choose less nutritious food.
However, diet did not explain everything.
The researchers suggested that reduced social interaction could also affect long-term brain health. Conversations during meals may provide mental stimulation. Social support may also help reduce stress, which can affect the ageing brain.
The study did not prove that eating alone causes dementia. More research is needed to understand the connection.
Italy shows the value of shared meals
Eating habits vary greatly around the world.
According to the World Happiness Report, people in Italy share almost nine meals with others each week on average. The figure is lower in Japan and stands at around seven to eight shared meals in the UK and US.
Italy has a particularly strong culture of communal eating.
When UNESCO recognised Italian cuisine as an Intangible Cultural Heritage, it highlighted the role food plays in connecting families and communities.
The country’s Slow Food Movement has also promoted traditional cooking and shared meals.
Barbara Nappini, president of Slow Food Italia, describes sharing food as a philosophy. She says cooking and eating together require care and patience.
You don’t need a big dinner party
The benefits of shared meals do not require a large gathering.
A simple lunch with a friend can provide an opportunity to connect. Inviting a neighbour or relative for dinner can also help strengthen relationships.
Research suggests that people often underestimate how much others enjoy their company. That can make us hesitate to invite someone for a meal.
A simple invitation may be enough.
For people who struggle to meet others, technology can also help.
Italian entrepreneur Paolo Bavaro founded the Tablo app in 2019. The service connects people who want to share meals and expand their social circles.
The idea is not focused on dating. Instead, it aims to help people meet others and build friendships.
A simple habit with lasting benefits
Modern life can make social connection difficult. Busy schedules, work and family responsibilities often leave little time for shared meals.
Yet the solution may be surprisingly simple.
Put away the phone, invite someone to eat and take time to talk.
A shared meal cannot solve every problem. But research suggests that regular social eating may support happiness, strengthen relationships and contribute to healthier ageing.
Sometimes, improving wellbeing may start with something as simple as sitting around a table with other people.
