Have you been living alone? No roommates or family living with you? Better watch your diet and maintain good food habits. A recent research concludes that people who are living solo are more like to have poor diets; and poor diets might result to poor health.

According to two new studies that were published Monday in the journal Health Affairs, having healthier diets and eating better were attributed to preventing 1.1 million premature deaths, diabetes, heart diseases and cancer. The studies also reported that the typical American diet is not actually healthy. As a matter of fact, most Americans are below average on the scale of healthy eating. This might mean a need for a more urgent action of preparing healthier foods.

However, as analyzed by nutrition experts of the Queensland University of Technology, people living alone in their homes might actually have a harder time to pursue healthier diets. They found that those living solo are more likely to have unhealthy and poor food habits with a lack of cooking skill and motivation to blame. After reviewing thoroughly 41 studies related to food habits and sociology, Queensland nutritionists conclude that people living unaccompanied are more probable to dine on ready-made instant meals and eat less fresh fruits and vegetables.

University of Queensland nutrition and dietetics lecturer Dr. Katherine Hanna explains that men are more likely than women to fall into bad food habits, while the elderly are also at risk. Economic factors may also explain why this is so. Consumption of healthier foods such as fresh produce and fish require more frequent purchase and consumption, which can also be expensive.

Divorcees are also at risk, since they may always have relied on a partner for food preparation.

On a brighter side of things, Dr. Hanna suggests that easily accessible cooking classes could help deal with the growing concern.