Abstract
Objective: To examine the relationship between changes in eating speed and changes in metabolic syndrome (MetS) parameters among Japanese adults.
Methods: In this study, we collected two years' worth (2010 and 2011) of data of participants working at a financial corporation. We analyzed the data of participants who answered “average” or “slow” to the question regarding eating speed at baseline, and those who also answered the same question at follow-up (1,794 participants; 825 males and 969 females). First, we assigned those who answered “average” or “slow” at the follow-up to the maintenance group (n = 1,651), and those who answered “fast” to the change group (n = 143). We then compared the characteristics, lifestyle, and changes in MetS parameters between the two groups.
Results: Among male participants, we found significant differences in body mass index (BMI), as well as in abdominal circumference between the two groups; scores on these parameters increased more in the change group than in the maintenance group (BMI; p = 0.020, AC; p = 0.003). Significant differences were also found in BMI and abdominal circumference among females; scores on these parameters increased more in the change group than in the maintenance group (BMI; p = 0.002, AC; p = 0.002).
Conclusions: Eating faster was positively associated with gains of BMI and abdominal circumference both among males and females over 1 year.
