Trends in childhood obesity in Japan: A nationwide observational study from 2012 to 2021

Changes in weight distribution and trends in obesity among children and adolescents in East Asia: Insights from NCD-RisC data

Pediatric obesity is a serious global health challenge. In East Asia, rapid socioeconomic changes have increased obesity rates. This study examines weight distribution and obesity trends in East Asian children using WHO criteria. Data from the Non-Communicable Disease Risk Factor Collaboration was used to analyze weight categories (thinness, normal weight, overweight, and obesity) among children aged 5 to 19 in China, Japan, South Korea, and Taiwan. Data were collected through probabilistic sampling and national surveys and classified using WHO BMI standards. Age standardized prevalence rate enabled cross-country comparisons for boys and girls from 2010 to 2022. Statistical methods included arithmetic statistics, linear regression, and time series analysis using the ARIMA model, with SAS 9.4 and SPSS for analysis. Significant trends were found (p for trend < 0.05). Taiwan and South Korea showed increased thinness, while China and Japan showed decreases. Normal weight prevalence declined, notably among South Korean boys. Overweight and obesity rates rose, especially among South Korean boys and Chinese girls. Japan's rates remained stable, while Taiwan showed minor fluctuations. Boys had higher overweight and obesity rates than girls in all countries. The highest rates were among children aged 10 to 11 years. East Asia, particularly South Korea and China, has seen rising obesity rates. Increasing thinness in South Korea and Taiwan also requires attention. The decline in healthy-weight children is concerning. Interventions should target children before ages 10 to 11. Urgent, tailored public health interventions are needed.

Factorial validation of the children's eating behavior questionnaire and the association between the eating behaviors assessed and BMI Z score in Chinese preschoolers aged 2-5 years

OBJECTIVE

This study aimed to evaluate the validity and reliability of the Children's Eating Behavior Questionnaire (CEBQ) among Chinese preschool children aged 2-5 years. Additionally, we investigated the associations between eating behaviors assessed by the CEBQ and body mass index (BMI).

METHODS

A cross-sectional study was conducted with a sample of Chinese preschool children aged 2 to 5 years (n = 11,780). The CEBQ was employed to assess participants' eating behaviors, and factor analysis of the CEBQ was conducted; sex and age differences in eating behaviors were examined. Correlations between children's BMI z scores and eating behaviors were analyzed via linear regression analysis controlling for age; sex; ethnicity; maternal age, education level, ethnicity and BMI; paternal age, education level, ethnicity and BMI.

RESULTS

The factor analysis confirmed the eight-factor structure of the CEBQ, which explained 67.57% of the total variance. Two items were excluded owing to low factor loadings. The subscales showed satisfactory internal reliability (Cronbach's alpha range: 0.76-0.90). Significant sex and age differences were observed for several CEBQ subscales, and BMI z scores were found to be associated with various eating behavior subscales.

CONCLUSIONS

This study's findings support the validity and reliability of the CEBQ for assessing eating behaviors among Chinese preschool children, and children's eating behaviors might be affected by age and sex. Furthermore, BMI was found to be associated with specific eating behaviors. Understanding these associations can inform interventions that promote healthy eating habits in this population.

Occult endocrine disorders newly diagnosed in patients with post-COVID-19 symptoms

Determination of long COVID requires ruling out alternative diagnoses, but there has been no report on the features of alternative diagnoses. This study was a single-center retrospective study of outpatients who visited our clinic between February 2021 and June 2023 that was carried out to determine the characteristics of alternative diagnoses in patients with post-COVID-19 symptoms. In a total of 731 patients, 50 patients (6.8%) were newly diagnosed with 52 diseases requiring medical intervention, and 16 (32%) of those 50 patients (2.2% of the total) were considered to have priority for treatment of the newly diagnosed disorders over long COVID treatment. The proportion of patients with a new diagnosis increased with advance of age, with 15.7% of the patients aged 60 years or older having a new diagnosis. Endocrine and metabolic diseases and hematological and respiratory diseases were the most common, being detected in eight patients (16%) each. Although 35 of the 52 diseases (67%) were related to their symptoms, endocrine and metabolic diseases were the least associated with specific symptoms. Other disorders that require attention were found especially in elderly patients with symptomatic long COVID. Thus, appropriate assessment and differentiation from alternative diagnoses are necessary for managing long COVID.