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IJE Advance Access originally published online on September 9, 2008
International Journal of Epidemiology 2009 38(1):83-92; doi:10.1093/ije/dyn182
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Published by Oxford University Press on behalf of the International Epidemiological Association. © The Author 2008; all rights reserved.
The online version of this article has been published under an open access model. Users are entitled to use, reproduce, disseminate, or display the open access version of this article for non-commercial purposes provided that: the original authorship is properly and fully attributed; the Journal and Oxford University Press are attributed as the original place of publication with the correct citation details given; if an article is subsequently reproduced or disseminated not in its entirety but only in part or as a derivative work this must be clearly indicated. For commercial re-use, please contact journals.permissions@oxfordjournals.org

Changes in body mass index by birth cohort in Japanese adults: results from the National Nutrition Survey of Japan 1956–2005

Ikuko Funatogawa1,*, Takashi Funatogawa2, Mutsuhiro Nakao1, Kanae Karita1,3 and Eiji Yano1

1Department of Hygiene and Public Health, Teikyo University School of Medicine, Tokyo 173-8605, Japan.
2Clinical Research Coordination Department, Chugai Pharmaceutical Co. LTD., Tokyo 103-8324, Japan.
3Department of Public Health, Kyorin University School of Medicine, Tokyo 181-8611, Japan.

* Corresponding author. Department of Hygiene and Public Health, Teikyo University School of Medicine, 2-11-1 Kaga, Itabashi-ku, Tokyo 173-8605, Japan. E-mail: ifunatogawa-tky{at}umin.ac.jp


  Abstract

Background The National Nutrition Survey, Japan (NNS-J) provides annual anthropometric information for a whole nation over 50 years. Based on this survey, the mean body mass index (BMI) of Japanese men and elderly women has increased in recent decades, but that of young women has decreased. We examined the effect of birth cohort on this phenomenon.

Methods We analysed data from the NNS-J for subjects aged 20–69 years. BMI during 1956–2005 and the prevalence of overweight and obesity (BMI ≥ 25 kg/m2) during 1976–2005 were estimated.

Results The BMI increased with age in every birth cohort, with similar increments, and did not peak until 60–69 years of age. However, with cross-sectional age, the BMI usually peaked before 60–69 years of age. The differences among cohorts already existed at 20–29 years of age, and slightly increased in men between 20–29 and 30–39 years of age. The BMI in all male age groups increased from the 1891–1900 through 1971–80 cohorts. However, in women, the figure increased until the 1931–40 cohorts, but later decreased. Changes in prevalence were generally consistent with changes in BMI. The recent increase (decrease in young women) in the mean BMI is attributable to birth cohort, indicating that thinner (fatter) and less recent birth cohorts have been replaced by fatter (thinner) ones.

Conclusions A cohort effect was quantitatively demonstrated based on a repeated annual survey. In Japan, the differences in BMI among cohorts were already established by young adulthood.

Keywords Aging, body mass index, cohort effect, cross-sectional studies

Accepted 7 August 2008


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