Impact of the Great East Japan Earthquake on Body Mass Index, Weight, and Height of Infants and Toddlers: An Infant Survey.

Hiroshi Yokomichi,Shigeo Kure,Mami Ishikuro,Toshiaki Tanaka,Noriko Kato,Tsuyoshi Isojima,Shoichi Chida,Masahiro Kikuya,Susumu Yokoya,Soichiro Tanaka,Zentaro Yamagata,Shinichi Kuriyama,Atsushi Ono,Hiroko Matsubara,Mitsuaki Hosoya

doi:10.2188/jea.je20170006

Abstract

BackgroundThe body mass index (BMI) of preschool children from 4 years of age through primary school has increased since the Great East Japan Earthquake, but that of children aged under 3 years has not been studied. This study evaluated how the anthropometrics of younger children changed following the earthquake.MethodsHeight and weight data of children living in northeast Japan were collected from 3-, 6-, 18-, and 42-month child health examinations. We compared the changes in BMI, weight, and height among infants affected by the earthquake between their 3- and 6-month health examinations, toddlers affected at 21–30 months of age (affected groups), and children who experienced the earthquake after their 42-month child health examination (unaffected group). A multilevel model was used to calculate the BMI at corresponding ages and to adjust for the actual age at the 3-month health examination, health examination interval, and gestational age.ResultsWe recruited 8,479 boys and 8,218 girls living in Fukushima, Miyagi, and Iwate Prefectures. In the infants affected between their 3- and 6-month health examinations in Fukushima, the change in BMI at 42 months of age was greater than among the unaffected children. In the toddlers affected at 21–30 months of age in Fukushima, the change in BMI was greater, but changes in weight and height were less.ConclusionsAffected infants and toddlers in Fukushima suggested some growth disturbances and early adiposity rebound, which can cause obesity. The future growth of children affected by disasters should be followed carefully.

Highlights

IntroductionThe Great East Japan Earthquake registered 9.0 on the moment magnitude scale and was the largest in Japan since 1875.1 It occurred on March 11, 2011 on the Pacific coast of northeast Japan, damaged a substantial number of homes, buildings,[2] and schools, and reportedly resulted in health problems for many residents.[3,4,5,6,7] There have, for example, been reports of increasing body mass index (BMI) in preschool children of about 4 years of age.[8,9,10] Problems in Fukushima Prefecture, where a tsunami following the earthquake destroyed a nuclear power station, were prolonged.Following an earthquake, micronutrient deficiency in children during the acute phase[11] and growth stunting in the post-quake phase[12] is usually a problem
The aim of this study was to determine: 1) whether the growth of infants and toddlers was disturbed by the earthquake; and 2) how the earthquake changed the body mass index (BMI) of children living on the Pacific coast of northeast Japan
In the group affected between 21 and 30 months old in Miyagi, there was no significant change in the BMI of either boys or girls compared with the unaffected group

Summary

Introduction

The Great East Japan Earthquake registered 9.0 on the moment magnitude scale and was the largest in Japan since 1875.1 It occurred on March 11, 2011 on the Pacific coast of northeast Japan, damaged a substantial number of homes, buildings,[2] and schools, and reportedly resulted in health problems for many residents.[3,4,5,6,7] There have, for example, been reports of increasing body mass index (BMI) in preschool children of about 4 years of age.[8,9,10] Problems in Fukushima Prefecture, where a tsunami following the earthquake destroyed a nuclear power station, were prolonged.Following an earthquake, micronutrient deficiency in children during the acute phase[11] and growth stunting in the post-quake phase[12] is usually a problem. East Japan Earthquake show that dietary sources were restricted during the acute phase,[13] and outdoor physical activity decreased during the post-quake phase because of fear of exposure to radioactive discharge from damaged nuclear power plants.[14] Fear of death may change hormone levels among those affected.[15] Experts suggest that growth retardation during the first 2–3 years of life can cause undesirable health outcomes later in childhood.[16,17] Studies on the impact of the earthquake have been. This study evaluated how the anthropometrics of younger children changed following the earthquake

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