Current diet and nutrition situation for children and pregnant/lactating women in Japan

Abstract

　Diet and nutrition before, during, and after pregnancy as well as during infancy and childhood are important determinants of health outcomes, not only in childhood, but also throughout adulthood. Effective interventions, including appropriate nutritional education for mothers and children, should be undertaken during these periods, taking into consideration the concept of the Developmental Origins of Health and Disease （DOHaD） and “life cycle chain”.
　Current diet and nutritional problems in Japan include body image distortion in some young women, which can lead to unhealthy diets and inappropriate weight gain during pregnancy, subsequently elevating risks for chronic diseases in their children. During infancy, breastfeeding and proper weaning practices are key factors for both the physical and mental development of children. Therefore, education for mothers is very important to ensure appropriate feeding and care for children. During childhood, there are several factors that influence children’s food preferences and choices that are becoming increasingly important in order to prevent unbalanced diets and overeating, a problem that may continue even into adulthood, causing obesity-related diseases. One of the emerging factors is the issue of how foods and beverages high in fat, sugar, and salt are specifically marketed to children by the commercial sector, which has become a global concern. as a risk for increasing of childhood obesity in many countries.
　In Japan, nutritional education （the Basic Law on Shokuiku） was enacted in 2005 and various initiatives and programs have been implemented both at national and local （community） levels. To promote health in new generations, more strategic and effective interventions are needed to improve diet and nutrition, especially for mothers and children.