Mothers' Nutrition Knowledge Is Unlikely to Be Related to Adolescents' Habitual Nutrient Intake Inadequacy in Japan: A Cross-Sectional Study of Japanese Junior High School Students

Adolescents and parents' knowledge of chronic kidney disease: the potential of school-based education

BACKGROUND

Preventing the progression of chronic kidney disease (CKD), reducing the incidence of new dialysis patients, and increasing public awareness about CKD are pivotal in mitigating renal impairment. This study aimed to assess the relevance of kidney disease and CKD knowledge among junior high school students and their parents.

METHODS

A questionnaire survey on kidney function and CKD was conducted among students aged 14-15 years and their parents (851 pairs). Parents were also asked about their age, sex, and participation in health checkups.

RESULTS

The study achieved a collection rate of 49.1%, with a valid response rate of 79.7%. Both junior high school students and their parents exhibited limited knowledge about kidney functions, primarily understanding these functions only in terms of waste product excretion and lacking awareness of other functions. A significant positive correlation was observed in awareness of kidney functions between students and their parents. Regarding CKD awareness, only 2.4% of students and 16.5% of parents were knowledgeable about CKD itself, while 18.9% of students and 45.3% of parents were aware of its name only. Importantly, CKD knowledge among both students and parents was associated, with those aware of CKD also demonstrating better understanding of kidney functions.

CONCLUSION

This study highlights inadequate knowledge among junior high school students and their parents regarding renal function and CKD. A significant correlation was observed in CKD awareness between students and their parents. These findings underscore the need for targeted strategies to enhance public education and awareness about kidney health.

Effects of Childhood Nutrition Education from School and Family on Eating Habits of Japanese Adults

Since the Basic Law of Shokuiku (nutrition education) was established in 2005, the Japanese government has been promoting nutrition education among children to encourage better eating habits. This study analyzes the 2019 survey data on people's attitudes towards nutrition education, in order to elucidate the relationship between the results of nutrition education, attitude towards nutrition education and proper eating habits, and the experience of nutrition education. The results reveal that people who received nutrition education at elementary school and middle school tend to have a more positive attitude towards nutrition education. In addition, family conversation on foods during elementary school years has a positive effect on nutritionally balanced eating behavior.

Relationship between maternal employment status and children's food intake in Japan

Background

Although long maternal working hours are reported to have a negative effect on children’s dietary habits, few studies have investigated this issue in Japan. Healthy dietary habits in childhood are important because they may reduce the risk of future disease. Here, we examined the relationship between maternal employment status and children’s dietary intake in 1693 pairs of Japanese primary school 5th and 6th graders and their mothers.

Methods

The survey was conducted using two questionnaires, a brief-type self-administered diet history questionnaire and a lifestyle questionnaire. The analysis also considered mothers’ and children’s nutrition knowledge, attitudes toward diet, and some aspects of family environment.

Results

Longer maternal working hours were associated with children’s higher intake of white rice (g/1000kcal) (β 11.4, 95%CI [1.0, 21.9]; working ≥8h vs. not working), lower intake of confectioneries (g/1000kcal) (β −4.0 [−7.6, −0.4]), and higher body mass index (BMI) (kg/m²) (β 0.62 [0.2, 1.0]). Although maternal employment status was not significantly associated with lower intake of healthy food (e.g., vegetables) or higher intake of unhealthy food (e.g., sweetened beverages) in the children, in contrast with previous studies, it may have affected children’s energy intake through their higher intake of white rice. Further, children’s nutrition knowledge and attitudes toward diet, mothers’ food intake, and some family environment factors were significantly associated with intakes of vegetables and sweetened beverages in the children.

Conclusions

Longer maternal working hours were significantly associated with higher intake of white rice and lower intake of confectioneries, as well as higher BMI among children. Even when a mother works, however, it may be possible to improve her child’s dietary intake by other means such as nutrition education for children or enhancement of food environment.

Impact of Inadequate Calorie Intake on Mortality and Hospitalization in Stable Patients with Chronic Heart Failure

Malnutrition is highly prevalent in patients with heart failure (HF), but the precise impact of dietary energy deficiency on HF patients' clinical outcomes is not known. We investigated the associations between inadequate calorie intake and adverse clinical events in 145 stable outpatients with chronic HF who had a history of hospitalization due to worsening HF. To assess the patients' dietary pattern, we used a brief self-administered diet-history questionnaire (BDHQ). Inadequate calorie intake was defined as <60% of the estimated energy requirement. In the total chronic HF cohort, the median calorie intake was 1628 kcal/day. Forty-four patients (30%) were identified as having an inadequate calorie intake. A Kaplan-Meier analysis revealed that the patients with inadequate calorie intake had significantly worse clinical outcomes including all-cause death and HF-related hospitalization during the 1-year follow-up period versus those with adequate calorie intake (20% vs. 5%, p < 0.01). A multivariate logistic regression analysis showed that inadequate calorie intake was an independent predictor of adverse clinical events after adjustment for various factors that may influence patients' calorie intake. Among patients with chronic HF, inadequate calorie intake was associated with an increased risk of all-cause mortality and rehospitalization due to worsening HF. However, our results are preliminary and larger studies with direct measurements of dietary calorie intake and total energy expenditure are needed to clarify the intrinsic nature of this relationship.