Eating Behaviors and Overweight among Adolescents: A Population-Based Survey in Japan

OBJECTIVES The aim of the present study was to investigate the relationship between eating behaviors and overweight among population-based adolescents in Japan. METHODS Study subjects comprised adolescents in the seventh grade (age range, 12-13 years) from Ina, a town in Saitama Prefecture, Japan, between 1999 and 2008. The height and weight of the subjects were measured, and information concerning eating behaviors (eating speed and eating until full) was obtained using a self-administered questionnaire. RESULTS Among boys (n = 1586), fast eating speed significantly increased the odds ratio (OR) for overweight when compared with medium eating speed, regardless of eating until full or not; moreover, a more marked increase in the OR was observed among boys eating until full (OR: 2.78, 95% confidence interval: 1.76-4.38) than among those not eating until full (2.43, 1.41-4.20). Among girls (n = 1542), fast eating speed led to a significant increase in the OR in those eating until full; however, no significant increases were observed in the OR in those eating quickly and not until full. CONCLUSIONS Among adolescents, fast eating speed was associated with overweight; furthermore, the combination of both fast eating speed and eating until full may have a significant effect on overweight.