Trends of Dietary Intakes and Metabolic Diseases in Japanese Adults: Assessment of National Health Promotion Policy and National Health and Nutrition Survey 1995–2019

Abstract

Health Japan 21 is Japan’s premier health promotion policy encompassing preventive community health measures for lifestyle-related diseases. In this repeated cross-sectional survey, we report 24-year trends of type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM), obesity, hypertension, and their association with dietary intakes to evaluate Health Japan 21’s impact and identify gaps for future policy implementation. We analyzed data from 217,519 and 232,821 adults participating in the physical examination and dietary intake assessment, respectively, of the National Health and Nutrition Survey 1995–2019. Average HbA1c and BMI have significantly increased along with the prevalence of T2DM and overweight/obesity among males. Despite a significant decrease in daily salt intake, the decline in the combined prevalence of Grades 1–3 hypertension was non-significant. Seafood and meat intakes showed strong opposing trends during the study period, indicating a dietary shift in the Japanese population. Neither salt nor vegetable/fruit intake reached the target set by Health Japan 21. Metabolic disease trend differences between males and females highlight the need for a gender-specific health promotion policy. Future Health Japan 21 implementation must also consider locally emerging dietary trends.

Dietary and other lifestyle factors and their influence on non-communicable diseases in the Western Pacific region

“… 4 Overall, these countries have made favorable changes, featured by increased consumption of fruits and vegetables as well as decreased intakes of salt and unhealthy fat. 48 , 49 , 50 , 51 , 52 , 53 , 54 , 55 , 56 , 57 , 58 , 59 , 60 , 61 These were also supported by the risk ranking between 1990 and 2019 based on the GBD data ( Table 2 , Supplementary Table S5 , and Fig. 2 ).…”

Nonalcoholic Fatty Liver Disease in Japan Continue to Increase Even after the Launch of Specific Health Checkups

“…Regarding trends in metabolic diseases and dietary nutrition in Japan, Fauzi et al ( 6 ) recently reported, based on the NHNS data, a shift to a Western-style Japanese diet over 24 years from 1995 to 2019 and an increase in T2DM and obese/overweight individuals among men. Komeda reported that the NAFLD incidence in the Kyoto area of Japan increased from 12.9% to 34.7% between 1994 and 2004 ( 15 ).…”

“…Regarding the relationship between NAFLD and dietary nutrition, an excessive caloric intake, a Western-style diet, a diet high in saturated fat, and a high fructose intake have been reported as risk factors ( 5 ). Recently, Fauzi et al ( 6 ) reported trends in metabolic diseases and dietary intake in Japan over the past 24 years and found that diets have rapidly become westernized, and prevalence of obesity, overweight, and type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM) have increased, especially in men. However, there are no reports on the association between NAFLD and the dietary nutrient intake following the implementation of SHCs.…”

Metabolic Abnormalities Following Tirzepatide Monotherapy in Japanese Patients with Type 2 Diabetes: A Phase 3 SURPASS J-mono Post Hoc Analysis

“…Based on data collected via the National Health and Nutrition Survey, mean body mass index (BMI) has significantly increased over the past two decades in Japan, and the prevalence of both type 2 diabetes (T2D) and obesity has steadily increased within the same time frame, particularly among males [ 1 ]. In Japan and other East Asian countries, patients with T2D have a lower mean BMI than patients from non-East Asian countries and a higher percentage of body fat, particularly visceral body fat, at any given BMI [ 2 ].…”