[Photo/IC]

Accumulating studies have suggested that eating out, especially in fast food chain restaurants, is associated with lower diet quality and higher body weight in children and young adults.

In the current study, the researchers demonstrated that eating homemade meals was associated with less weight gain over eight years in these middle-aged and older health professionals.

While researchers don't provide a specific number of homemade meals people should eat each week, Zong said "more could be better."