title: Energy density of the diets of Japanese adults in relation to food and nutrient intake and general and abdominal obesity: a cross-sectional analysis from the 2012 National Health and Nutrition Survey, Japan.
abstract: The associations of dietary energy density with dietary intake and obesity have been largely unexplored in non-Western populations. The present cross-sectional study examined the associations using data from the 2012 National Health and Nutrition Survey, Japan. Dietary intake was assessed using a 1-d semi-weighed dietary record in 15 618 Japanese adults aged ≥20 years. Mean dietary energy density (calculated on the basis of foods only) was 5·98 (sd 1·20) kJ/g in men and 5·72 (sd 1·16) kJ/g in women. Dietary energy density was positively associated with intakes of bread, noodles (only men), meat, fats and oils, and sugar and confectionery but inversely with intakes of white rice (only men), potatoes, pulses, vegetables, fruits, and fish and shellfish. For nutrient intake, dietary energy density was positively associated with total fat and SFA but inversely associated with all other nutrients examined such as protein, carbohydrate, alcohol (only women), dietary fibre, and several vitamins and minerals, including Na. After adjustment for potential confounding factors, dietary energy density was positively associated with abdominal obesity (waist circumference ≥80 cm) in women (adjusted prevalence ratio between the extreme tertiles 1·07; 95 % CI 1·02, 1·12; P for trend=0·003). Dietary energy density was also positively but non-significantly associated with general obesity (BMI≥25 kg/m2) in women (P for trend=0·08). There were no such associations in men. In conclusion, lower energy density of the diets of Japanese adults was associated with favourable food and nutrient intake patterns, except for higher Na, and, in only women, a lower prevalence of abdominal obesity.
authors.affiliation: 1Department of Nutrition,School of Human Cultures,University of Shiga Prefecture,Shiga 522 8533,Japan.
authors.forename: Kentaro
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Murakami
authors.affiliation: 2Northern Ireland Centre for Food and Health,Ulster University,Coleraine BT52 1SA,UK.
authors.forename: M Barbara E
authors.initials: MB
authors.lastname: Livingstone
authors.affiliation: 3Department of Health Promotion,National Institute of Public Health,Saitama 351 0104,Japan.
authors.forename: Hitomi
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Okubo
authors.affiliation: 4Department of Social and Preventive Epidemiology,School of Public Health,University of Tokyo,Tokyo 113 0033,Japan.
authors.forename: Satoshi
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Sasaki
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D044466:Asian People; D003430:Cross-Sectional Studies; D004435:Eating; D002149:Energy Intake; D005260:Female; D006306:Health Surveys; D006801:Humans; D007564:Japan; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D009749:Nutrition Surveys; D009765:Obesity; D055815:Young Adult
keywords:  EI energy intake;  Japan;  NHNSJ National Health and Nutrition Survey;  WC waist circumference; Energy density; Japan; National surveys; Nutrient intake; Obesity; Waist circumference