An energy-dense diet is cross-sectionally associated with an increased risk of overweight in male children, but not in female children, male adolescents, or female adolescents in Japan: the Ryukyus Child Health Study.
Epidemiologic evidence concerning the role of dietary energy density in increased body weight status during childhood and adolescence is limited, particularly in non-Western populations. We investigated the hypothesis that higher dietary energy density is associated with increasing risk of overweight in Japanese children and adolescents. This Japanese cross-sectional study included 15974 children (6-11 years old; 7956 boys and 8018 girls) and 8202 adolescents (12-15 years old; 3944 boys and 4258 girls). Dietary intake was assessed using a self-administered diet history questionnaire for children and adolescents. Dietary energy density was calculated based on foods only (excluding beverages). Body mass index (BMI) was calculated from self-reported body weight and height. Overweight (including obesity) was defined according to the International Obesity Task Force age- and sex-specific BMI cutoffs, which correspond to an adult BMI of at least 25 kg/m². The overall prevalence of overweight was 13.2%. Mean dietary energy density was 5.02 (standard deviation, 0.59) kJ/g. After adjustment for potential confounding factors, dietary energy density was positively associated with the risk of overweight in male children (P for trend = .048). No such associations were observed among female children, male adolescents, or female adolescents. In conclusion, this large cross-sectional study in Japan suggests that an energy-dense diet is associated with an increased risk of overweight in male children, but not in female children, male adolescents, or female adolescents.
Department of Social and Preventive Epidemiology, School of Public Health, University of Tokyo, Hongo 7-3-1, Bunkyo-ku, Tokyo 113-0033, Japan. kenmrkm@m.u-tokyo.ac.jp
Kentaro
K
Murakami
Yoshihiro
Y
Miyake
Satoshi
S
Sasaki
Keiko
K
Tanaka
Masashi
M
Arakawa
D000293:Adolescent; D015992:Body Mass Index; D001835:Body Weight; D002648:Child; D002664:Child Nutritional Physiological Phenomena; D003430:Cross-Sectional Studies; D004032:Diet; D002149:Energy Intake; D005247:Feeding Behavior; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007564:Japan / Q000453:epidemiology; D008019:Life Style; D016015:Logistic Models; D008297:Male; D050177:Overweight / Q000453:epidemiology*; D015995:Prevalence; D012307:Risk Factors; D012737:Sex Factors; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires