Home Cooking and Child Obesity in Japan: Results from the A-CHILD Study

Abstract

This study aimed to investigate the association between the frequency of home cooking and obesity among children in Japan. We used cross-sectional data from the Adachi Child Health Impact of Living Difficulty study, a population-based sample targeting all fourth-grade students aged 9 to 10 in Adachi City, Tokyo, Japan. Frequency of home cooking was assessed by a questionnaire for 4258 caregivers and classified as high (almost every day), medium (4-5 days/week), or low (≤3 days/week). School health checkup data on height and weight were used to calculate body mass index z-scores. Overall, 2.4% and 10.8% of children were exposed to low and medium frequencies of home cooking, respectively. After adjusting for confounding factors, children with a low frequency of home cooking were 2.27 times (95% confidence interval: 1.16-4.45) more likely to be obese, compared with those with a high frequency of home cooking. After adjustment for children's obesity-related eating behaviors (frequency of vegetable and breakfast intake and snacking habits) as potential mediating factors, the relative risk ratio of obesity became statistically non-significant (1.90; 95% confidence interval: 0.95-3.82). A low frequency of home cooking is associated with obesity among children in Japan, and this link may be explained by unhealthy eating behaviors.

Home Cooking Is Related to Potential Reduction in Cardiovascular Disease Risk among Adolescents: Results from the A-CHILD Study

“…Home-cooking frequency over the past month was assessed by asking caregivers the following question: “How many times did you or someone else in your family cook meals at home? A cooked meal is defined as a simple meal, such as a fried egg” [ 29 ]. The five response items were 6 or more days/week, 4–5 days/week, 2–3 days/week, a few days/month, and rarely.…”

“…Additionally, cardiovascular disease risks, such as hypertension, hyperglycemia, and dyslipidemia, are becoming increasingly common in adolescents with obesity [ 28 ]. A previous study in Japan showed that children exposed to a low frequency of home cooking had lower frequencies of vegetable consumption and breakfast intake and tended to be obese [ 29 ]. Therefore, adolescents who eat less home-cooked food may be vulnerable to developing unhealthy dietary behaviors, which, in turn, may be linked to cardiovascular disease risk.…”

The Association between Parental Involvement Behavior and Self-Esteem among Adolescents Living in Poverty: Results from the K-CHILD Study

“…For instance, “cooking for their child” is one key parental involvement behaviors for a child’s physical health. Tani et al [ 66 ] have found the association between home cooking and child obesity, using a Japanese sample. However, there are some cultures in which the family goes out to eat daily.…”

Environmental Influences on Dietary Intake of Children and Adolescents

“…Tani, Fujiwara, Doi, and Isumi [10] examined the association between home cooking and childhood obesity in a large sample of primary school children in Japan. Children living in households with a low frequency of home cooking were more than twice as likely to be obese as those in a household with high cooking frequency were.…”

“…Children living in households with a low frequency of home cooking were more than twice as likely to be obese as those in a household with high cooking frequency were. This association was partially mediated by children's diet (vegetable, breakfast, and snack intake), suggesting that home cooking is associated with healthy intake, which, in turn, decreases the risk for obesity [10]. Home cooking and family meals are important indicators of family functioning [11], and can thus be regarded an important target for future obesity prevention interventions.…”