Abstract
BackgroundDuring the year after the Great East Japan Earthquake on March 11, 2011, the health conditions and lifestyles of survivors were extensively surveyed. We examined the relationship between living conditions and dietary pattern among survivors.MethodsA total of 10 466 survivors aged 18 years or older (25% of the population of that age in the area) participated in a survey of Iwate Prefecture. The average frequency of daily consumption of 8 food groups was determined by questionnaire. After excluding staple foods, which were consumed 3 times a day by 85% of participants, factor analysis was performed on 7 food groups among 9789 people (3795 men, 5994 women).ResultsFactor analysis identified 2 dietary patterns—prudent and meat. The prudent dietary pattern is characterized by high intakes of fish and shellfish, soybean products, vegetables, fruit, and dairy products and was more evident among older participants and women. The meat dietary pattern is characterized by high intakes of meat and eggs and was more evident among younger participants and men. Age-adjusted multiple logistic regression analyses showed that male and female current smokers and men and women living in difficult conditions were likely to have a lower prudent dietary pattern score; male current smokers and male daily alcohol drinkers were likely to have a higher meat dietary pattern score.ConclusionsDuring the year after the earthquake, the prudent dietary pattern was associated with better living conditions among survivors, whereas the meat dietary pattern was not.
Highlights
IntroductionThe quantity and quality of food intake seriously deteriorated among survivors during the first few months after the disaster, when most were living in evacuation centers.[2] After about half a year, the survivors were transferred to temporary accommodation, where only basic necessities were supplied by local governments, and they began preparing their own food
Due to concerns regarding the physical and mental well-being of survivors of the Great East Japan Earthquake and tsunami disaster of March 11, 2011, a prospective cohort was established to address an urgent need to monitor their health
Almost 50% of both men and women answered that their living conditions were acceptable, but more than 20% answered that their living conditions were difficult or severe
Summary
The quantity and quality of food intake seriously deteriorated among survivors during the first few months after the disaster, when most were living in evacuation centers.[2] After about half a year, the survivors were transferred to temporary accommodation, where only basic necessities were supplied by local governments, and they began preparing their own food. Because their economic circumstances had not changed and a number had lost family members who had played a major role in preparing food, it is likely that dietary conditions remained poor. Conclusions: During the year after the earthquake, the prudent dietary pattern was associated with better living conditions among survivors, whereas the meat dietary pattern was not
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