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Mother employment status and nutritional patterns in Japanese junior high schoolchildren

International Journal of Obesity volume 33, pages 753–757 (2009)Cite this article

Abstract

Aims:

To investigate associations between mothers' employment (full, part time and no employment) and nutrition habits (regularity of breakfast, snack, dinner, meal speed and portion size) in a sample of Japanese junior high schoolchildren, 12–13 years of age.

Methods:

A total of 10 453 children aged 12–13 years from the Toyama birth cohort study (fourth phase) participated, of whom 8906 children (89% response rate) responded to all questions related to the examined variables. Nutrition habits consisted of breakfast, snack, dinner, meal speed and meal portion. Children's obesity/overweight was measured by body mass index (BMI).

Results:

Fathers' employment had no effect on their children's nutrition patterns. Children of full-time employed mothers were the most likely to snack and to skip dinner. Children of part-time employed mothers ate larger meal portions, and those of non-employed mothers reported faster meal speeds. BMI was significantly (P<0.001) higher among children of full-time employed mothers (19.3), and lowest among non-employed mothers (19.00). Children of full-time employed mothers are more likely to be overweight, but not obese compared with other children.

Conclusion:

There was a strong relationship between mother's employment and nutrition patterns in this cohort of Japanese schoolchildren; special programs focused on children's nutrition patterns should take into account the mothers' employment status.

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Acknowledgements

Dr Alexandru Gaina was supported by a UCL BALZAN fellowship during 2008-2009.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Epidemiology and Public Health, University College of London, London, UK

    A Gaina, T Chandola & M Marmot

  2. Department of Welfare Promotion and Epidemiology, Graduate School of Medicine, University of Toyama, Toyama, Japan

    M Sekine & S Kagamimori

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  1. A Gaina
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  2. M Sekine
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  3. T Chandola
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  4. M Marmot
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  5. S Kagamimori
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Correspondence to A Gaina.

Appendix

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Table 6 Table a1
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Gaina, A., Sekine, M., Chandola, T. et al. Mother employment status and nutritional patterns in Japanese junior high schoolchildren. Int J Obes 33, 753–757 (2009). https://doi.org/10.1038/ijo.2009.103

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