MON-LB310 Relationship Between Obesity-Induced Metabolic Abnormalities and Nutrient Intake: Sex Differences in Japanese University Students

Abstract

Background: Preventive measures and interventions for obesity in young adults are urgently needed. However, evidence-based guidelines for interventional programs in this generation have not been established worldwide because of limited access to data on this group. To establish effective methods of obesity prevention in young adults, we analyzed the relationship between nutrient intake and obesity-related metabolic factors in each body mass index (BMI) group among Japanese university students. Methods: A cross-sectional analysis was performed using annual health checkup data, which is conducted mandatory for all students according to the School Health and Safety Act in Japan, from Gifu University’s incoming class of 2017. Nutrient intake information was obtained from the brief-type self-administered diet history questionnaire (BDHQ), which has been adjusted and validated for the Japanese population. Inclusion criteria were aged 18-30 years and completed the all examination items including BDHQ. From a total of 1277 students’ data, 1202 satisfied and were included in the analyses (participation rate: 94.1%). Nutrition and metabolic data were compared among BMI groups (lean, <18.5 kg/m2; normal, 18.5-24.9 kg/m2; obese, ≥25.0 kg/m2, according to criteria of the Japan Society for the Study of Obesity [2002]) using one-way analysis of variance with post-hoc Tukey honestly significant difference analysis in SPSS software version24 (IBM Corporation, Armonk, New York). Results: The percentage of obesity was 8.1% in men and 1.4% in women, showing a significant difference. Among men, BMI groups were significantly (p<0.05) different in the intake of 11 nutrients which were protein, fat, saturated fat, cholesterol, omega 3 and 6 fatty acids and micronutrients K, Mg, P, Fe, and Zn, significantly high in nine metabolic parameters, which were blood glucose, hemoglobin A1c, uric acid (UA), aspartate aminotransferase (AST), alanine aminotransferase (ALT), systolic and diastolic blood pressure (BP), low-density lipoprotein (LDL) cholesterol, triglycerides (TG) and significant low in high-density lipoprotein (HDL) cholesterol among obese group. Among women, BMI groups were not significantly different in nutrient intake, significantly high in five metabolic parameters, which were UA, ALT, systolic BP, LDL, and TG, and significant low in HDL among obese group. Conclusion: This study suggested that the effect of obesity on metabolic abnormalities in Japanese university students may be more remarkable in men than in women. This sex difference might be partially explained by the significant increase in protein and fat intake in obese men. For women, other factors may contribute to obesity and metabolic abnormalities. Education for appropriate volumes of nutrient intake could be effective in male university students.