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Background: The combined effects of physical inactivity and obesity on hypertension have been recognized; however, previous studies evaluated physical activity using questionnaires. We aimed to examine the effects of physical activity, measured using an accelerometer, and obesity on hypertension onset., Methods: At baseline, 426 middle-aged Japanese men who were not on antihypertensive medications were included. Physical activity was measured for 7 consecutive days using an accelerometer. Mean daily moderate to vigorous physical activity (MVPA) and step count (SC) were calculated. Low MVPA and low SC were each defined as the first tertile. Obesity was defined as ≥25 kg/m2 of body mass index. The onset of hypertension was defined as receiving antihypertensive agents during the 4-year follow-up. The combined effects of obesity and physical inactivity on hypertension were examined using Cox regression analysis. Potential confounders included age, smoking, alcohol consumption, daily salt intake, dyslipidemia, diabetes mellitus, and systolic and diastolic blood pressures., Results: Cox regression analysis revealed that both obesity and low MVPA predicted hypertension in patients, independent of confounders (hazard ratio [HR]: 2.64, 95% confidence interval [CI]: 1.08-6.42, p = 0.033), unlike obesity alone (HR: 1.50, 95% CI: 0.50-3.26, p = 0.590). Stratification by obesity and SC revealed similar hypertension risks among the two groups (Obesity with low SC [HR: 2.10, 95% CI 0.88-5.24, p = 0.089]; Obesity without low SC [HR: 1.72, 95% CI 0.93-4.01, p = 0.082])., Conclusions: Here, findings suggest that the coexistence of obesity and decreased MVPA may increase the risk of hypertension onset., (Copyright © 2019 Asia Oceania Association for the Study of Obesity. Published by Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.)

Objective: Obesity, a risk factor for all-cause and cardiovascular mortality, is a major health concerns among middle-aged men. The aim of this study was to investigate a possible association of dietary habits and obesity related single nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs) with obesity and metabolic abnormalities., Methods: We conducted a retrospective cohort study using annual health examination data of 5112 male workers, obtained between 2007 and 2011. Average dietary energy was estimated using electronically collected meal purchase data from cafeteria. We examined 8 SNPs related to obesity: GHRL rs696217, PPARG rs1175544, ADIPOQ rs2241766, ADIPOQ rs1501299, PPARD rs2016520, APOA5 rs662799, BRAP rs3782886, and ITGB2 rs235326. We also examined whether SNPs that were shown to associate with obesity affect other metabolic abnormalities such as blood pressure (BP), glucose, and lipid profile., Results: Average dietary energy significantly associated with increased abdominal circumference (AC) and body mass index (BMI). The odds ratios (ORs) of overweight and obesity also increased. The major allele of rs696217 significantly increased BMI and an increased OR with obesity, while the minor allele of rs3782886 was associated with significantly decreased AC and the decreased ORs with overweight and obesity. The minor allele of rs3782886 was also associated with significantly decreased systolic BP (SBP), triglyceride (TG), high-density lipoprotein (HDL), and fasting blood sugar (FBS), while rs696217 was not associated with other metabolic abnormalities., Conclusions: Average dietary energy in lunch, rs3782886, and rs696217 were associated with obesity, and rs3782886 was associated with other metabolic abnormalities., (Copyright © 2016 Asia Oceania Association for the Study of Obesity. Published by Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.)

The purpose of this study is to evaluate the association of abdominal fat thickness with obesity-associated metabolic risk factors. A total of 186 men and 350 women aged 30-78, who were voluntary participants in a community-based health screening program, were examined for body mass index (BMI), waist circumference (WC), and WC-stature ratio (WCSR). Using the ultrasonographic method, the maximum thickness of the preperitoneal fat layer (Pmax) and the minimum and maximum thicknesses of the subcutaneous fat layer (Smin and Smax) in the abdominal region were measured and the abdominal wall fat index (AFI=Pmax/Smin) was calculated. Each measurement was used as a main predictor in the logistic model where the presence of a metabolic risk factor (high blood pressure, high triglyceride, low high-density lipoprotein cholesterol, high glucose, and high uric acid) was predicted. Common covariates in the models were age, smoking status, drinking habit, and overall physical activity. Both WC and WCSR, which behaved in the same manner as BMI, showed a significant association with the majority of metabolic risk factors, but these anthropometric indices were not independent of the confounding effect of BMI. In relationship with atherogenic dyslipidemia, Smax in women and Pmax in both men and women were significant predictors independent of BMI. AFI was also found to be a BMI-independent predictor of atherogenic dyslipidemia in both genders. In men, AFI and high glucose were not significantly associated; in women, they were inversely associated. No measurement showed a significant association with high uric acid. Results suggest that ultrasonographic evaluation of abdominal fat is useful for identifying those at atherogenic risk. A larger sample of subjects in terms of body composition may be required to confirm the usefulness of ultrasonographic evaluation of high glucose.

Background: Few epidemiologic studies have examined the association between the rate of eating and obesity. In this study, we cross-sectionally examined the association of the self-reported rate of eating with current Body Mass Index (BMI), and BMI-change from 20 years of age to the current age., Methods: Subjects were 3737 male (mean age +/- standard deviation and mean BMI +/- standard deviation: 48.2 +/- 7.1 years and 23.3 +/- 2.7 kg/m(2)) and 1005 female (46.3 +/- 7.0 years and 21.8 +/- 2.8 kg/m(2)) Japanese civil servants. We measured self-reported categorical rate of eating, current BMI, BMI at age 20, and BMI-change from age 20. Energy intake was assessed over a 1-month period with a brief-type diet history questionnaire., Results: The multiple regression analysis in which the current BMI was regressed by categorical rate of eating, energy intake, age, and lifestyle factors showed that current BMI steadily increased by -0.99, -0.67, 0.81, and 1.47 kg/m(2) along with the progress of categorical rate of eating from the 'medium' group to 'very slow', 'relatively slow', 'relatively fast', and 'very fast' groups, respectively, in men. In women, the corresponding values were -1.06, -0.35, 0.50, and 1.34 kg/m(2). When the BMI increment from age 20 to current age was regressed in the same manner, the increment was -0.63, -0.34, 0.57, and 1.05 kg/m(2) in men and -0.71, -0.32, 0.34, and 1.14 kg/m(2) in women, respectively. Additionally, both BMI at age 20 and current height were positively associated with rate of eating., Conclusions: Our results among middle-aged men and women suggest that eating fast would lead to obesity.

Aim: The incidence of ovarian cancer in Japan has increased since the 1970s. The many studies that have assessed the relationship between body mass index (BMI) and the risk of ovarian cancer have produced contradictory results. Here we investigated this relation using data from the Japan Collaborative Cohort Study for the Evaluation of Cancer Risk, which was initiated in 1988., Methods: A self-administered questionnaire on dietary habits and other risk factors for cancer was completed by 36,456 Japanese women. After 7.6 years of follow up, 38 cases of ovarian cancer were available for analysis. Cox proportional-hazards models were used to compute relative risks and to adjust for confounders., Results: Compared to women with BMI of 18.5-24.9 kg/m2, the relative risk of ovarian cancer was 2.24 (95% CI = 1.10-4.21) for BMI of 25.0-29.9 and 1.78 (95% CI = 0.24-13.34) for BMI of > or = 30 kg/m2. A test for trend revealed that this finding was statistically significant (P = 0.014)., Conclusion: The results of this study suggest that being overweight is independently associated with a higher risk of developing ovarian cancer in the Japanese population.

Purpose: There is still uncertainty whether flatfoot, characterized by lower height of the medial longitudinal arch of the foot, is associated with foot symptoms in adults. Furthermore, few studies have been conducted to examine any association with obesity in older people. In this study, we therefore assessed the prevalence of flatfoot among community-dwelling older men and women using a footprint method, and analyzed relationships with foot symptoms and obesity., Methods: The study sample consisted of 242 women and 98 men aged 60 years or older who were neither institutionalized nor disabled in activities of daily living. We collected footprints of both feet, data on weight and height, and information on foot symptoms and daily activity. From the footprints, we identified the H line by connecting the tip of the second toe and the intersection of the internal surface tangent of the foot and the external one. Then flatfoot was defined as concavity of the medial arch situated medial to the H line in either foot. Foot symptoms (pain and fatigue) were assessed using a 3-scale questionnaire: no pain (fatigue); present only when walking or standing; or present anytime. If present, the place of the pain or the fatigue was further identified. We analyzed associations with these symptoms and also with obesity assessed in terms of the body mass index (BMI)., Results: We identified flatfoot in 26.5% (95% Confidence Interval: 22.0-31.0) of the men and 25.7% (95% Confidence Interval: 20.2-31.2) of the women. In both sexes, the affected individuals had a higher prevalence of foot pain and fatigue than those unaffected. The association with the latter in women was particularly significant. There was a linear association between prevalence of flatfoot with the BMI category in women. In addition, the prevalence was lowest in the least obese category in men although this did not reach statistical significance., Conclusions: Flatfoot was significantly associated with the presence of pain and fatigue in women. Furthermore, a significant positive association with obesity was noted.

Aims and objectives. To examine the characteristics of hypertension-related factors in female family caregivers in Japan who provide care in the home, in comparison with general community non-caregivers. Background. Hypertension is more frequently encountered in female caregivers than in non-caregivers. Lifestyle factors including sleep and eating habits differ in Japanese female caregivers and the general population. Therefore, hypertension-related factors in caregivers may also differ from those in the general population. Design. A cross-sectional study. Methods. The subjects were 150 female caregivers (aged 62·4, SD 12·2 years) who provided home care for persons with physical impairments and/or dementia and 154 female controls (aged 62·7, SD 2·2 years) who did not provide home care. Persons with a history of ischaemic heart disease or cerebral stroke were excluded. Subjects were examined using a self-reporting questionnaire that included a food frequency questionnaire and the tri-axial coping scale. Urine examinations and blood pressure measurements were also done. Logistic regression analysis was conducted for each group with the same variables as explanatory variables. Results. Hypertension was present in 46·7% of caregivers and 34·4% of controls ( p < 0·05). Menopause was a factor related to hypertension in both the caregivers and controls. In the caregiver group, hypertension was associated with the estimated 24-h Na excretion in urine and the carbohydrate-energy ratio for nutriti. BMI was associated with hypertension in the control group, but not in the caregiver group. Conclusions. Hypertension was associated with nutritional factors, such as greater Na excretion in urine and higher carbohydrate energy ratio, in Japanese female caregivers and with obesity in non-caregivers. Relevance to clinical practice. To prevent hypertension, it is necessary to carefully monitor salt intake and nutritional balance in female caregivers in Japan. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]