title: Dietary glycemic index and glycemic load in relation to risk of overweight in Japanese children and adolescents: the Ryukyus Child Health Study.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  Epidemiologic evidence concerning the role of dietary glycemic index (GI) and glycemic load (GL) in obesity during childhood and adolescence is limited, particularly in non-Western populations. We examined the association between dietary GI and GL as well as dietary fiber intake and overweight status in Japanese children and adolescents.
  
  
  METHODS
  This Japanese cross-sectional study included 15,974 children (6-11 years; 7956 boys and 8018 girls) and 8202 adolescents (12-15 years; 3944 boys and 4258 girls).
  
  
  METHODS
  Dietary intake was assessed using a self-administered diet history questionnaire for children and adolescents. Body mass index (BMI) was calculated from self-reported body weight and height. Overweight was defined according to the International Obesity Task Force age- and sex-specific BMI cutoffs, which correspond to an adult BMI of 25 kg m(-2).
  
  
  RESULTS
  The overall prevalence of overweight was 13.2%. Mean (s.d.) dietary GI was 63.0 (3.1), mean dietary GL was 85.0 (12.4) per 4184 kJ (1000 kcal) and mean dietary fiber intake was 5.9 (1.2) g/4184 kJ. After adjustment for potential confounding factors, dietary GL was positively associated with the risk of overweight in male children, female children and male adolescents (P for trend <0.0001, <0.0001 and 0.006, respectively), but not in female adolescents. No such independent associations were observed for dietary GI or fiber intake.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  This large cross-sectional study in Japan suggests that higher dietary GL is associated with increasing risk of overweight in male and female children and male adolescents, but not female adolescents.
authors: Department of Social and Preventive Epidemiology, School of Public Health, University of Tokyo, Tokyo, Japan. kenmrkm@m.u-tokyo.ac.jp
authors: K
authors: K
authors: Murakami
authors: Y
authors: Y
authors: Miyake
authors: S
authors: S
authors: Sasaki
authors: K
authors: K
authors: Tanaka
authors: M
authors: M
authors: Arakawa
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D044466:Asian People; D015992:Body Mass Index; D002648:Child; D003430:Cross-Sectional Studies; D004032:Diet / Q000009:adverse effects; D015930:Diet Records; D004040:Dietary Carbohydrates / Q000008:administration & dosage; D002149:Energy Intake / Q000502:physiology*; D005260:Female; D038321:Glycemic Index / Q000502:physiology*; D006801:Humans; D007564:Japan / Q000453:epidemiology; D008297:Male; D015596:Nutrition Assessment; D050177:Overweight / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000209:etiology*; D012572:School Health Services; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires
chemical_list: D004040:Dietary Carbohydrates