Association between Regular Exercise and Dietary Intake among Japanese Young Adults Aged 18-24 Years: A Cross-Sectional Study

Abstract

The aim of this study was to examine the association between regular exercise and dietary intake in Japanese young adults. A cross-sectional study was performed between May 2013 and July 2013 in universities, colleges, and technical schools located in Ibaraki, Kanagawa, Tokyo, and Nara in Japan. The final sample comprised 654 students, 473 females and 181 males, aged 18-24 y. Regular exercise and dietary intake were assessed using validated self-reported questionnaires. Logistic regression analyses were applied to examine the association between regular exercise and dietary intake. A total of 18% females and 40% males spent ≥5 h per week exercising. Females who spent ≥5 h per week exercising were likely to have a higher intake of fruits (odds ratio (OR), 1.84; 95% confidence interval (CI), 1.09-3.13) and a lower intake of cereals (OR, 0.57; 95% CI, 0.33-0.97) than were those who spent <1 h per week. Males who spent ≥5 h per week exercising were more likely to have a higher intake of fish and shellfish (OR, 2.69; 95% CI, 1.07-6.77) than those who spent <1 h per week. In conclusions, young adults who spent ≥5 h per week exercising had a higher intake of fruits among females, and a higher intake of fish and shellfish among males than those who spent <1 h per week. The present findings suggested food group intakes associated with regular exercise in Japanese young adults.