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BMC Pediatrics
Published in: BMC Pediatrics 1/2018

Open Access 01-12-2018 | Research article

Effects of eating dinner alone on overweight in Japanese adolescents: a cross-sectional survey

Authors: Takako Shirasawa, Hirotaka Ochiai, Takahiko Yoshimoto, Masaaki Matoba, Yuma Sunaga, Hiromi Hoshino, Akatsuki Kokaze

Published in: BMC Pediatrics | Issue 1/2018

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Abstract

Background

The decrease in the frequency of family meals among Asian youth is often lamented. In Japan, adolescents who eat breakfast alone might have an unhealthy diet, which increases the risk of overweight or obese. However, there are few studies on the relationship between eating dinner alone and overweight in Japanese adolescents. Here, we investigated if eating dinner alone is associated with being overweight in Japanese adolescents of each sex.

Methods

The participants consisted of 890 seventh graders (12–13 years of age) from the junior high schools of Ina, Japan who were recruited from 2011 to 2012. Information about eating dinner alone was obtained using a self-reported questionnaire, which was given to each participant. The participants were classified into the following three groups: does not eat alone, eats alone 1–2 times/week, or eats alone ≥3 times/week. A logistic regression model was used to examine the relationship between eating dinner alone and being overweight. The height and weight of each participant were measured. Childhood overweight status was defined using the body mass index cutoff points proposed by the International Obesity Task Force.

Results

When compared with girls who did not eat dinner alone, a significantly increased odds ratio (OR) was observed among girls who ate dinner alone ≥1 time/week (adjusted OR = 2.78; 95% confidence interval = 1.21–6.38). In contrast, there was no statistically significant difference between eating dinner alone and being overweight among boys.

Conclusion

The present study found that eating dinner alone is associated with being overweight among adolescent girls in this community in Japan. Therefore, reducing the frequency of eating dinner alone might contribute to decreasing the risk for becoming overweight or obese among adolescent girls.
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Metadata
Title
Effects of eating dinner alone on overweight in Japanese adolescents: a cross-sectional survey
Authors
Takako Shirasawa
Hirotaka Ochiai
Takahiko Yoshimoto
Masaaki Matoba
Yuma Sunaga
Hiromi Hoshino
Akatsuki Kokaze
Publication date
01-12-2018
Publisher
BioMed Central
Published in
BMC Pediatrics / Issue 1/2018
Electronic ISSN: 1471-2431
DOI
https://doi.org/10.1186/s12887-018-1041-y

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