Relationship between BMI and Food literacy in graduate of a nutritionist training facility

Abstract

　　　Objectives: A risk of life-related disease onset has increased due to obesity or over-weight men and women in Japan. In a cross over study on physique and eating habits, however longitudinal study between physique in young women and physique and dietary habits in middle-aged women are few. The purpose of this study is to clarify any influences on what the subjects have learned about nutrition which can contribute to their physique and dietary behavior in the future. Methods: The subjects of this study were 147 women who graduated from Otsuma Women’s University department of food science from 1975 to 1984. We compared the changes in body mass index (BMI) and dietary behavior of the subjects from they were young adults to middle-aged. Results: The ratio of subjects with a BMI <18.5 when they were young adults was 9.7% and was less than 22 year old women, with a lean ratio (14.4%), found in a national nutrition survey 3 decades ago. The ratio of subjects with a BMI >25 in their middle-aged was 9.6% and was less than persons with an obese ratio (21.9%) found in a national nutrition survey in 2011. Conclusion: This study concludes that people can control their physique through what they have learned about nutrition.