“Researchers from the University of Tokyo conducted a study to measure the consumption of highly processed foods (HPFs) and its connection to diet quality among Japanese children and teenagers. The study found that HPFs made up more than 25% of the total energy intake for this group. The consumption of HPFs was linked to lower intake of healthy foods like fruits, vegetables, and pulses, and higher consumption of confectioneries. This information provides valuable insight into the dietary habits of young people in Japan.”
Studies have shown that highly processed foods (HPFs) make up a significant part of the energy intake among Japanese children and adolescents, accounting for over one-fourth of their total energy intake. Consumption of HPFs was found to be linked to lower intake of healthy foods like fruits, vegetables, and pulses, and higher consumption of confectioneries. This suggests that poor-quality diets, including a high consumption of HPFs, are associated with an increased risk of health issues and noncommunicable diseases such as Type 2 diabetes. Researchers are focusing on understanding the factors related to diet quality in order to improve people’s overall health.The consumption of high protein foods (HPF) has been increasing rapidly, raising concerns about its potential impact on public health. However, there have been limited studies conducted in Japan, particularly on children and adolescents, due to the difficulties in assessing them.
Assistant Professor Nana Shinozaki from the School of Public Health explained, “Our previous research on HPF consumption in adults in Japan revealed a negative association with diet quality. This led us to investigate whether similar associations exist in younger generations.” To do so, her team conducted a cross-sectional study, which involves assessing many people in a short period of time.
rather than studying fewer individuals over a longer period of time, in order to investigate the connection between HPF consumption and overall diet quality among Japanese children and adolescents. The study found that increased HPF consumption is linked to lower diet quality in 1,318 participants aged 3-17 years.”
This may not be surprising to many, but it is worth noting that this is the first time concrete data has been gathered on this specific demographic, and this information could help improve public health. One challenge in researching diets is that many of the issues lack specific definitions. Therefore, Shinozaki and her team chose to focus on their study.The University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill (UNCCH) researchers created a dietary classification system to categorize the food consumed by study participants. They used the Healthy Eating Index-2020 and the Nutrient-Rich Food Index 9.3 to assess the quality of the diets. According to the UNCCH classification, HPFs are described as “multi-ingredient, industrially formulated mixtures processed to the extent that they are no longer recognizable as their original plant/animal source.”
One of the major challenges was gathering detailed dietary data, which is crucial for identifying HPFs, over eight consecutive days.”The study spanned over a year and involved a substantial sample of approximately 1,300 individuals,” Shinozaki explained. “The evaluation process carried out by researchers, as well as the assessments conducted by participants or their parents, proved to be quite burdensome for both the participants and the researchers due to the requirement for accurate and consistent recording of dietary intake. Our research would not have been possible without the assistance of research dietitians across Japan, who played a crucial role in supporting the participants and gathering data.”
It may come as a surprise to some readers that the notion of Japan’s national diet being a paradigm of healthy eating is somewhat inaccurate and outdated.
“According to Professor Kentaro Murakami of the University of Tokyo, a recent study found that the average total score of the Healthy Eating Index-2015, a commonly used measure of diet quality, was similar among Japanese adults compared to the average American. This discovery suggests that the Japanese diet may not be as healthy as previously thought,” stated Shinozaki. “Regardless of location, increasing the intake of unprocessed or minimally processed foods, particularly fresh fruits and vegetables, can be beneficial at the individual level. On a societal level, public awareness campaigns, policy changes, and increased availability of healthy food options can also be helpful.”The changes in the market to encourage less consumption of high processed foods (HPFs) could have positive impacts. Our research backs the continued work to create dietary guidelines and public health plans that aim to decrease the frequency of diet-related illnesses.”
