Effect of Eating Speed during Elementary and Junior High School on Body Size at 20 Years of Age

Abstract

This study aimed to investigate the effect of eating speed during elementary and junior high school on body size at 20 years of age. We selected men and women aged 20-49 years through an internet survey. The survey comprised the participants’ current height, weight, and eating speed; weight at 20 years of age; body size during elementary and junior high school; presence or absence of food education classes; and eating speed during elementary and junior high school. The results indicated a relationship between eating speed during elementary and junior high school and body mass index (BMI) at 20 years of age. It was found that the faster the eating speed during elementary and junior high school, the higher the BMI at 20 years of age for both men and women (p for trend: all < 0.01). Moreover, these results remained unchanged even after excluding those who were obese during elementary or junior high school. Furthermore, the food education classes during elementary and junior high school caused a significant decrease in the eating speed only in women. In conclusion, our results indicated that a fast-eating speed during elementary and junior high school was associated with a high BMI at 20 years of age, and eating speed in women was affected by food education.