Most people struggle to make time to eat a leisure meal, let alone lunch with friends or even make it home for dinner with their families. Well, folks spending mealtime alone rather than enjoying their food while socializing should think twice before solo dining. Apparently, it's not the best decision for our well-being.

Recently, studies have shown people who frequently eat meals alone may lead to a higher risk of heart disease and diabetes. “At the same time, eating patterns have become irregular, informal, and individualized in the form of more eating alone,” according to the journal for the Obesity Research & Clinical Practice. 

While eating solo may be relaxing to some, it can also cause metabolic syndrome, which is a dangerous bundle of health conditions, including high blood pressure and cholesterol, that raise your risk of heart disease, stroke and diabetes.

According to Time Health, for men, eating alone was associated with a 45 percent increased risk of being obese and a 64 percent increased risk of having metabolic syndrome. The effect was less pronounced for women. Those who ate alone at least twice a day were 29 percent more likely to have metabolic syndrome than those who never ate alone.

Sounds like not only do we need to be eating healthy, we also need to make eating together a priority.