2025 Volume 7 Issue 2 Pages 65-74
[Objective] Establishing healthy lifestyle habits from an early age is important for long-term health outcomes. However, Aomori Prefecture has a high child obesity rate. This study explored meal provision during extended childcare to clarify the eating habits, lifestyle habits, and health status of young children enrolled in extended childcare in Aomori Prefecture.
[Methods] An anonymous self-administered questionnaire survey was completed by parents of young children enrolled in extended childcare. The study compared the mealtimes, eating habits, lifestyle, and health status of children who were and were not obese that were enrolled in extended childcare.
[Results] Ten percent of the children in the sample were obese. These children were more likely to skip dinner on days when they attended extended childcare(p=0.011). Furthermore, these children were more likely to go to bed later on days they attended extended childcare compared to days when they did not(p=0.016). Children receiving meals during extended childcare were more likely to eat snacks after returning home from extended childcare(p=0.011), were less likely to go to bed before 9 PM(p<0.001), and were less likely to wake up before 7 AM the next day(p=0.015).
[Conclusion] This study showed that the proportion of children who are obese in Aomori prefecture is higher than the national average. This suggests that irregular eating and lifestyle habits associated with attending extended childcare may contribute to obesity.
