Tokyo, Oct. 21 (Jiji Press)–The quality of diet in Japan is lowest among people in their teens to early 20s and relatively high among middle-aged and elderly people, according to a multiyear survey by a research group at the University of Tokyo. The results are believed to be linked to income and education levels, as well as the habit of skipping breakfast. The research group said that developing good dietary habits early in life and maintaining them could lead to good health in the long term. From 2016 to 2020, the group, including project professor Hitomi Okubo, asked a total of 4,455 Japanese people aged 1 to 79 in 32 prefectures to record their diets for a total of eight days, or two days in each season. The group then assessed the diet records using two food balance indexes. The index based on food types, such as vegetables, fruits and dairy products, was lowest for men around the age of 23 and for women around 16. The index based on nutrient types, such as vitamins and protein, was lowest for both men and women around 24. Among those aged 1 to 17, the quality of diet tended to be better at households with higher income or parents with higher education levels. Similar links were also observed among adult respondents. Additionally, the habits of skipping breakfast and smoking cigarettes were related to poor diet quality. The group pointed out a possible link between lower diet quality among young people and changes in their living conditions due to school enrollment and employment. “It is significant to provide opportunities to learn about selecting healthy foods at schools and workplaces, as well as to create an environment that enables people to pick up nutritiously balanced foods at reasonable prices at convenience stores and restaurants,” Okubo said. END [Copyright The Jiji Press, Ltd.]
