A Review on Eating Together and Its Health, Diet, and Lifestyle Influences among Japanese.

To discuss the importance associated with eating together for the Japanese population based on recent research evidence, we conducted a systematic review on eating together and eating alone in relation to health, diet, and lifestyle. In this review, we defined "eating together" as eating meals together with other people, not limited to family members but friends, relatives, or neighbors. Articles published between 2000 and 2018 were accessed using domestic and international databases (Igaku Chuo Zasshi, CiNii, J-STAGE, PubMed, Scopus, and Eric). After screening titles, abstracts, and full texts, 62 articles matching the criteria were included in the review. Most articles were cross-sectional studies. Target populations included preschool children (n=8), school-aged children through university students (n=34), and adults and the elderly (n=20). Although definitions of "eating together" differed by the studies, the most used indicator was "frequency of eating together," with whom eating meals together being "family," and the targeted meals were "breakfast and dinner." Having either eating together occasions or few eating alone chances were more likely to associate with better quality of life, subjective health, food intake and balanced diet, dietary behavior, and life rhythm across the life course.

Genetic variants of the fatty acid desaturase gene cluster are associated with plasma LDL cholesterol levels in Japanese males.

Fatty acid (FA) compositions in tissues are related to metabolic disorders, and consequently the appropriate management of underlying FA compositions in tissues is considered to be important. However, the relationship among the serum lipid profiles, the FA composition of the red blood cell (RBC) membranes and genetic variations in the fatty acid desaturase (FADS) genes in Japanese men is unclear. In this study, the subjects recruited were 137 Japanese men, 40 to 60 y old, who had a regular health checkup. Their serum lipid profile and the relative FA composition of the RBC membranes were measured. They were genotyped for the single nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs) rs174553, rs174546, rs99780 and rs174583 in FADS gene. Multiple regression analysis was conducted to detect the relationship among hyperlipidemia, the FA composition of the RBC and the FADS genotypes. As a result, the homozygous genotype for the minor alleles in rs174553, rs174546, rs99780 were found to be associated with lower low-density lipoprotein cholesterol (LDL-C) levels and a lower LDL-C/total-cholesterol ratio. The homozygous genotype for the minor alleles reduced the risk of high LDL-C level (R2=0.50, ß=-0.20, p=0.009), whereas, the arachidonic acid (AA) levels in the carriers of the homozygous genotype for the minor alleles tended to be lower compared with the carriers of the major alleles. However, no significant differences were observed in any FA level among the three genotypes for four SNPs. These results indicate that the appropriate management of serum LDL-C levels depending on genetic predisposition in FADS genotypes should be encouraged.

Association of enjoyable childhood mealtimes with adult eating behaviors and subjective diet-related quality of life.

OBJECTIVE: This study examined whether the experience of enjoyable mealtimes at home during childhood was related to eating behaviors and subjective diet-related quality of life in adulthood. METHODS: The study used data (n = 2,936) obtained from a research program about Shokuiku (food and nutrition education) conducted by the Cabinet Office in Japan in November and December 2009. The study employed logistic regression adjusted for all predictor variables. RESULTS: Enjoyable eating experiences in childhood were positively associated with a balanced diet (meals with 3 dishes; odds ratio [OR]: 1.78, 95% confidence interval [CI]: 1.45-2.19), eating vegetable dishes (OR: 1.71, 95% CI: 1.37-2.12), and subjective diet-related quality of life scores (OR: 3.84, 95% CI: 3.14-4.70) in adulthood. CONCLUSIONS AND IMPLICATIONS: This study suggests that enjoyable eating experiences at home during childhood appear to promote healthy eating habits and the development of a positive diet-related quality of life in the future.

[Associations among appetite, snacking, and body type during infant development].

OBJECTIVE: To examine associations among appetite, snacking, and body type during infant development. We also investigated whether trends in appetite, snacking, and body type continue through time. METHODS: Children (n=1313) born between April 2000 and March 2004, in Ito City, Shizuoka Prefecture, were enrolled. Data were collected during health checkups at 18 and 36 months of age. The items used for analysis were the child's appetite, snack content, snack-eating style, and gender. The mothers commented on their child's appetite as good, normal, lacking, or irregular. The good and normal responses were grouped under the category good/normal appetite, while lacking and irregular were grouped under the category lacking/irregular appetite. Body types were calculated using an obesity index and classified as underweight, normal, or overweight. Fifteen kinds of snacks at 36 months were classified using cluster analysis. Appetite, snack content, snack-eating style, and body type at 18 and 36 months of age were compared using the McNemar test. Logistic regression was used to determine odds ratios (ORs) and 95% confidence intervals (CIs) for the appetite categories. RESULTS: There were 664 boys (50.6%) and 648 girls (49.4%) in the study (missing=1). The response rate was 56.5%. Snacks were classified by content as meal substitutes, snacks and sweet foods, or healthy snacks. There was no change in appetite at 18 and 36 months of age. By 36 months, snack content, snack-eating style had changed (e.g. solitary snacking increased.). The highest risk factor for appetite at 36 months was lacking/irregular appetite at 18 months (OR: 4.70, CI: 3.07-7.19), eating snacks without time constraints (OR: 1.81, CI: 1.24-2.65), followed by unsupervised snacking (OR: 2.92, CI: 1.45-5.87), and consuming few healthy snacks (OR: 0.69, CI: 0.48-1.00). The risk factors for lacking/irregular appetite at 18 months of age were eating snacks without time constraints (OR: 1.68, CI: 1.13-2.49), receiving snacks on-demand (OR: 1.49, CI: 1.01-2.19) or from acquaintances (OR: 2.46, CI: 1.46-4.14), and being underweight (OR: 11.47, CI: 3.20-41.15). CONCLUSION: Education must be started at an early age because lacking/irregular appetite at 18 months was found to continue through to 36 months. In addition, the risk factors for a lacking/irregular appetite differed between 18 and 36 months; thus, education should be based on age.