People who consume more homemade meals may have a lower risk of developing type 2 diabetes, a new study has found.

US researchers looked at the eating patterns of almost 58,000 women and over 41,000 men who had taken part in two studies which saw them followed up over a 36-year period.

None of the participants had type 2 diabetes at the start of the study.

The researchers did not have enough information to analyse breakfast eating patterns, however they found that people who consumed homemade lunches and dinners 11-14 times per week had a 13% reduced risk of developing type 2 diabetes compared to those who ate less than six homemade lunches or dinners per week.

They pointed out that increasing evidence suggests that eating out, particularly in fast food restaurants, is linked with a poor quality of diet and a higher body weight in both children and young adults. However, eating meals prepared at home is associated with less weight gain.

Being overweight or obese is a major risk factor for type 2 diabetes as well as heart disease.

"The trend for eating commercially prepared meals in restaurants or as take-out has increased significantly over the last 50 years. At the same time, type 2 diabetes rates have also increased," the researchers from Harvard commented.

While they were not able to pinpoint a specific number of homemade meals which people should try to consume each week, they suggested that ‘more could be better'.

Details of these findings were presented at the American Heart Association's Scientific Sessions 2015 in Florida.