Journal of Endocrinology and Metabolism, ISSN 1923-2861 print, 1923-287X online, Open Access
Article copyright, the authors; Journal compilation copyright, J Endocrinol Metab and Elmer Press Inc
Journal website https://www.jofem.org

Original Article

Volume 10, Number 5, October 2020, pages 131-139


Effects of Self-Awareness of Eating Behaviors and Differences in Daily Habits Among Japanese University Students on Changes in Weight and Metabolism

Figure

Figure 1.
Figure 1. The relationship between BMI, SBP, and FPG in fifth grade and degree of self-awareness of habitual eating behaviors related to weight gain more than 3%. (a-c) Fast eating; (d-f) Late-night eating; (g-i) Not eating breakfast. (a, d, g) BMI in fifth grade, (b, e, h) SBP in fifth grade, and (c, f, i) FPG in fifth grade. The numbers in each figure represent the degree of self-awareness of habitual eating behaviors: “1. Never, 2. Sometimes, 3. Frequently, and 4. Always”. (a) The self-awareness of fast eating was significantly associated with higher BMI (P < 0.001). (h, i) SBP and FPG tended to be higher in students who were aware of their tendency to skip breakfast. BMI: body mass index; SBP: systolic blood pressure; FPG: fasting blood glucose.

Tables

Table 1. Clinical Characteristics and Lifestyle Profiles of the Study Participants
 
TotalMenWomenP value
Data are expressed as mean ± standard deviation or (%); differences with a value of P < 0.05 were considered statistically significant. BMI: body mass index.
Number1006337
Age in fifth grade (years)25.4 ± 5.526.1 ± 5.524.3 ± 5.40.116
Height in fifth grade (cm)166.6 ± 8.7171.4 ± 6.0158.4 ± 6.1< 0.001
Weight in fifth grade (kg)61.5 ± 10.866.5 ± 8.352.8 ± 8.7< 0.001
BMI in fifth grade (kg/m2)22.0 ± 2.622.6 ± 2.321.0 ± 2.70.002
Systolic blood pressure in fifth grade (mm Hg)119.4 ± 12.5123.3 ± 12.7112.9 ± 9.3< 0.001
Diastolic blood pressure in fifth grade (mm Hg)71.9 ± 9.872.7 ± 10.670.5 ± 8.30.279
Fasting plasma glucose in fifth grade (mg/dL)77.8 ± 6.678 ± 5.977.4 ± 7.60.704
Fasting plasma insulin in fifth grade (μU/mL)6.3 ± 2.86.0 ± 2.76.8 ± 3.10.158
BMI in first grade (kg/m2)21.5 ± 2.522.1 ± 2.220.6 ± 2.70.003
Age difference between first and fifth grade (years)4.1 ± 1.04.1 ± 1.14.2 ± 0.70.494
Weight change from first to fifth grade (kg)1.3 ± 4.21.5 ± 4.40.9 ± 3.80.558
Daily self-weighing (%)33.027.043.20.124
Regular exercise (%)48.063.521.6< 0.001
Skipping breakfast (%)37.042.927.00.136
Frequent late-night eating (%)18.022.210.80.185
Excess soft drink consumption (%)23.028.613.50.093

 

Table 2. Comparison of Clinical Characteristics and Lifestyle Profiles Among University Students With or Without Daily Behaviors
 
Daily self-weighingRegular exerciseSkipping breakfastFrequent late-night eatingExcess soft drink consumption
YesNoYesNoYesNoYesNoYesNo
Data are expressed as mean ± standard deviation or (%). Statistically significant data; *P < 0.05, **P < 0.005 vs. No. BMI: body mass index; SBP: systolic blood pressure; FPG: fasting plasma glucose.
Number33674852376318822377
Age in fifth grade (years)26.5 ± 3.625.9 ± 6.224.5 ± 3.626.3 ± 6.825.4 ± 5.825.4 ± 5.424.3 ± 3.325.6 ± 5.923.3 ± 1.6*26.0 ± 6.1
BMI in fifth grade (kg/m2)22.5 ± 2.320.8 ± 2.722.7 ± 2.2*21.4 ± 2.822.0 ± 2.722.0 ± 2.521.9 ± 3.122.0 ± 2.522.6 ± 2.021.9 ± 2.7
SBP in fifth grade (mmHg)119.7 ± 15.1119.3 ± 11.2121.5 ± 10.5117.5 ± 14.0121.3 ± 14.1118.3 ± 11.5120.3 ± 11.9119.2 ± 12.7120.6 ± 11.2119.1 ± 13.0
FPG in fifth grade (mg/dL)78.2 ± 5.377.6 ± 7.177.8 ± 5.777.7 ± 7.380.3 ± 7.0**76.3 ± 5.877.8 ± 6.477.7 ± 6.677.3±5.077.9 ± 7.0
BMI in first grade (kg/m2)22.1 ± 2.521.3 ± 2.522.1 ± 2.4*21.0 ± 2.521.2 ± 2.421.7 ± 2.521.2 ± 2.821.6 ± 2.421.9 ± 2.321.4 ± 2.6
Age difference between first and fifth grade (years)4.2 ± 0.84.1 ± 1.04.1 ± 0.94.2 ± 1.04.2 ± 1.14.1 ± 0.84.6 ± 1.0*4.0 ± 0.94.3 ± 0.74.1 ± 1.0
Weight change from first to fifth grade (kg)1.3 ± 5.01.2 ± 3.71.7 ± 4.60.9 ± 3.82.3 ± 4.60.7 ± 3.82.2 ± 4.41.1 ± 4.12.0 ± 4.31.1 ± 4.2
Men (%)51.568.783.3**44.273.057.177.859.878.358.4
Daily self-weighing (%)100.0**0.039.626.932.433.327.834.226.135.1
Regular exercise (%)57.643.3100.0**0.051.446.066.742.973.9*40.3
Skipping breakfast (%)38.437.339.634.6100.0**0.038.936.639.136.4
Frequent late-night eating (%)15.219.425.011.518.917.5100.0**0.021.716.9
Excess soft drink consumption (%)18.225.435.4*11.524.322.227.822.0100.0**0.0

 

Table 3. Comparison of Clinical Characteristics, Lifestyle Profiles, and Responses on the Questionnaire on Eating Behaviors Based on the Difference in Weight Change From First to Fifth Grade
 
Weight change from first to fifth grade
Weight gain (≥ 3%)Weight gain (< 3%)Weight loss
Data are expressed as mean ± standard deviation or (%). In the questionnaire on eating behaviors, only question items that had a significant difference are shown. Statistically significant data; *P < 0.05, **P < 0.005 vs. weight gain (< 3%); ***P < 0.05, ****P < 0.005 vs. weight loss. BMI: body mass index; SBP: systolic blood pressure; FPG: fasting plasma glucose.
Number403337
Age in fifth grade (years)26.0 ± 7.324.4 ± 3.625.4 ± 4.1
BMI in fifth grade (kg/m2)23.1 ± 2.6*, ***21.2 ± 2.421.4 ± 2.3
SBP in fifth grade (mm Hg)120.7 ± 15.1116.8 ± 10.6119.8 ± 10.6
FPG in fifth grade (mg/dL)79 ± 7.177.0 ± 6.876.9 ± 5.7
BMI in first grade (kg/m2)21.2 ± 2.321.0 ± 2.322.3 ± 2.7
Age difference between first and fifth grade (years)4.2 ± 0.84.2 ± 1.24.0 ± 1.0
Weight change from first to fifth grade (kg)5.1 ± 3.3**, ****0.8 ± 0.6****-2.5 ± 2.2
Men (%)67.547.867.6
Daily self-weighing (%)32.534.832.4
Regular exercise (%)52.543.546.0
Skipping breakfast (%)50.030.427.0
Frequent late-night eating (%)20.017.416.2
Excess soft drink consumption (%)35.013.016.2
External eating behavior
  I often eat socially1.33 ± 0.57*, ****1.96 ± 0.931.97 ± 0.93
Eating style
  I am a fast eater.2.88 ± 1.04*2.17 ± 1.152.38 ± 0.98
  During meals, I end up having one mouthful after another.2.75 ± 0.87*1.96 ± 1.192.35 ± 0.98
Regularity of eating habits
  I often eat late-night snacks.2.45 ± 0.88***2.26 ± 0.861.92 ± 0.89
  I do not eat breakfast.2.55 ± 1.26***1.83 ± 0.981.81 ± 1.13