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Eating Behavior and Childhood Overweight Among Population-Based Elementary Schoolchildren in Japan

Author

Listed:
  • Hirotaka Ochiai

    (Department of Public Health, Showa University School of Medicine, 1-5-8 Hatanodai, Shinagawa-ku, Tokyo 142-8555, Japan)

  • Takako Shirasawa

    (Department of Public Health, Showa University School of Medicine, 1-5-8 Hatanodai, Shinagawa-ku, Tokyo 142-8555, Japan)

  • Rimei Nishimura

    (Division of Diabetes, Metabolism and Endocrinology, Department of Internal Medicine, Jikei University School of Medicine, 3-25-8 Nishi-Shinbashi Minato-ku, Tokyo 105-8461, Japan)

  • Aya Morimoto

    (Division of Diabetes, Metabolism and Endocrinology, Department of Internal Medicine, Jikei University School of Medicine, 3-25-8 Nishi-Shinbashi Minato-ku, Tokyo 105-8461, Japan)

  • Naoki Shimada

    (Department of Public Health, Showa University School of Medicine, 1-5-8 Hatanodai, Shinagawa-ku, Tokyo 142-8555, Japan)

  • Tadahiro Ohtsu

    (Department of Public Health, Showa University School of Medicine, 1-5-8 Hatanodai, Shinagawa-ku, Tokyo 142-8555, Japan)

  • Masayasu Hashimoto

    (Department of Public Health, Showa University School of Medicine, 1-5-8 Hatanodai, Shinagawa-ku, Tokyo 142-8555, Japan)

  • Hiromi Hoshino

    (Department of Public Health, Showa University School of Medicine, 1-5-8 Hatanodai, Shinagawa-ku, Tokyo 142-8555, Japan)

  • Naoko Tajima

    (Jikei University School of Medicine, 3-25-8 Nishi-Shinbashi Minato-ku, Tokyo 105-8461, Japan)

  • Akatsuki Kokaze

    (Department of Public Health, Showa University School of Medicine, 1-5-8 Hatanodai, Shinagawa-ku, Tokyo 142-8555, Japan)

Abstract

This study investigated the relationship between eating behavior and childhood overweight among population-based elementary schoolchildren in Japan. Data was collected from fourth graders (9 or 10 years of age) from Ina Town, Saitama Prefecture, Japan from 1999 to 2009. Information about subjects’ sex, age, and lifestyle, including eating behaviors (eating until full and chewing thoroughly), was obtained using a self-administered questionnaire, and height and weight were measured directly. Overweight was determined according to the definition established by the International Obesity Task Force. Data from 4027 subjects (2079 boys and 1948 girls) were analyzed. Chewing thoroughly was associated with a significantly decreased odds ratio (OR) for being overweight, whereas eating until full significantly increased the OR for being overweight (OR: 1.50, 95% confidence interval: 1.16–1.94) among boys. However, eating until full was not associated with a significantly increased OR for being overweight among the group that reported chewing thoroughly, whereas it was associated with a significantly increased OR for being overweight (2.02, 1.38–2.94) among boys who did not chew thoroughly. In conclusion, eating until full or not chewing thoroughly was associated with being overweight among elementary schoolchildren. Results of this study suggest that chewing thoroughly may be an avenue to explore childhood overweight prevention efforts.

Suggested Citation

  • Hirotaka Ochiai & Takako Shirasawa & Rimei Nishimura & Aya Morimoto & Naoki Shimada & Tadahiro Ohtsu & Masayasu Hashimoto & Hiromi Hoshino & Naoko Tajima & Akatsuki Kokaze, 2012. "Eating Behavior and Childhood Overweight Among Population-Based Elementary Schoolchildren in Japan," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 9(4), pages 1-13, April.
    • Handle: RePEc:gam:jijerp:v:9:y:2012:i:4:p:1398-1410:d:17203
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