Objective: To examine the relationship of meal consumption consisting of grain, fish and meat, and vegetable dishes to self-rated health among Japanese adults.
Methods: Data were obtained from the 2017 survey, “The Survey of Attitude toward Shokuiku,” by the Ministry of Agriculture, Forestry, and Fisheries of Japan (with a national representative sample of 3,000 people). Cross-sectional data from 1,779 adults (796 men and 983 women) were analyzed. The frequency of eating two or more meals consisting of grain, fish and meat, and vegetable dishes a day was self-reported as daily, 4–5 days/week, and less than or equal to 2–3 days/week. The association between the frequency of eating meals consisting of grain, fish and meat, and vegetable dishes and “good” or “somewhat good” self-rated health was evaluated using adjusted logistic regression analysis. Model 1 was adjusted for age, living status, and employment status. Model 2 was adjusted for variables in Model 1 plus subjective time availability. Model 3 was adjusted for variables in Model 1 plus subjective economic status as a covariate.
Results: In Models 2 and 3, daily consumption of two balanced meals was associated with good self-rated health (odds ratio [95% confidence interval] Model 2: men=1.86 [1.27–2.71], women=2.07 [1.43–3.02]; Model 3: men=1.71 [1.16–2.51], women=1.82 [1.24–2.66]).
Conclusions: These findings suggest that the daily consumption of at least two meals consisting of grain, fish and meat, and vegetable dishes is associated with good self-rated health.
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