Abstract
ObjectiveTo investigate the effects of lifestyle factors on overweight among Japanese adolescents.MethodsWe studied 5753 junior high school students (2842 boys and 2911 girls) aged 12 to 13 years. The students were residents of Toyama prefecture, Japan and completed a questionnaire about their height, weight, and lifestyle factors, in June and July 2002. Subjects with a body-mass index (BMI) higher than age- and sex-specific cut-off points were defined as obese. Parental overweight was defined as a BMI of 25 or higher. Logistic regression analysis was used to examine associations between lifestyle factors and overweight.ResultsSkipping breakfast, eating quickly, excessive eating, physical inactivity, and long hours of TV watching were positively and significantly associated with overweight in both sexes. There was a negative association between snacking and overweight in girls (P < 0.001); no such association was found in boys (P > 0.05). Nighttime snacking was negatively associated with overweight in boys and girls (P < 0.05). Extended video game playing (≥2 hours; OR = 2.00, P = 0.012) and short sleep duration (<7 hours; OR = 1.81, P = 0.004) were significantly associated with overweight in girls only. The respective risks of overweight that derived from the subjects’ fathers and mothers were 2.0 and 2.5 times, respectively, in boys and 1.9 and 3.0 times in girls.ConclusionsParental overweight, skipping breakfast, eating quickly, excessive eating, long hours of TV watching, long hours of video game playing, physical inactivity, and short sleep duration were associated with adolescent overweight. Furthermore, there were significant negative associations between adolescent overweight and snacking in girls and nighttime snacking in both sexes.
Highlights
The proportion of children and adolescents who are overweight and obese has increased dramatically throughout the world during the past few decades.[1,2,3] In Japan, the prevalence of overweight in 12-year-old and 14-year-old adolescents increased from 9.2% and 8.6% to 14.9% and 11.2%, respectively, during the period from 1976 through 2000.4 Overweight and obesity have become an overwhelming global public health issue.[5]Adolescence is a critical period in the development of overweight/obesity
Consistent with these studies, we found that parental overweight, skipping breakfast, eating quickly, excessive eating, long hours of TV watching, long hours of video game playing, physical inactivity, and, in girls, short sleep duration were associated with adolescent overweight
We found significant negative associations between adolescent overweight and snacking in girls and nighttime snacking in both sexes
Summary
The proportion of children and adolescents who are overweight and obese has increased dramatically throughout the world during the past few decades.[1,2,3] In Japan, the prevalence of overweight in 12-year-old and 14-year-old adolescents increased from 9.2% and 8.6% to 14.9% and 11.2%, respectively, during the period from 1976 through 2000.4 Overweight and obesity have become an overwhelming global public health issue.[5]Adolescence is a critical period in the development of overweight/obesity. The proportion of children and adolescents who are overweight and obese has increased dramatically throughout the world during the past few decades.[1,2,3] In Japan, the prevalence of overweight in 12-year-old and 14-year-old adolescents increased from 9.2% and 8.6% to 14.9% and 11.2%, respectively, during the period from 1976 through 2000.4 Overweight and obesity have become an overwhelming global public health issue.[5]. Obesity in adolescents is associated with several serious medical complications, including type 2 diabetes, poor immune function, hypertension, metabolic disorders, decreased mobility, and sleep apnea, and may continue into adulthood.[6,7] One study found that adolescent obesity increased the long-term (approximately 50-year) risks of adult morbidity and mortality, independent of adult obesity status.[8] Another study found that 70% of obese 10- to 13-yearold children become obese adults.[9] overweight/ obesity has become one of the most important issues in adolescent and adult health
Sign-in/Register to view highlights & summary Sign-in/Register to access full text options 
Talk to us
Join us for a 30 min session where you can share your feedback and ask us any queries you have
Schedule a callDisclaimer: All third-party content on this website/platform is and will remain the property of their respective owners and is provided on "as is" basis without any warranties, express or implied. Use of third-party content does not indicate any affiliation, sponsorship with or endorsement by them. Any references to third-party content is to identify the corresponding services and shall be considered fair use under The CopyrightLaw.
