What are the most common nutritional problems in Japan?
When searching for the most common nutritional problems in Japan, two publications that serve as guidelines for Japanese citizens are often mentioned:
“The National Health Promotion Movement in the 21st Century” or “Health Japan 21” is a health promotion measure for Japanese citizens. “Health Japan 21” serves as a countermeasure against lifestyle-related diseases like metabolic syndrome (also known as ‘visceral fat syndrome’). The percentage of deaths caused by lifestyle-related diseases in Japan is 62,3%.(Ministry of Health and Welfare, 2001)
A “healthy Japanese dietary pattern” characterized by vegetables and fruits, soy products, mushrooms and green tea is rarely associated with the prevalence of metabolic syndrome or its components. However, a “Westernized breakfast pattern” (characterized by high intakes of bread, confectionaries and milk and yogurt) or a pattern characterized by high intakes of fish and shellfish, meat, processed meat, mayonnaise and egg are both associated with medical disorders that increase the risk of developing cardiovascular disease and diabetes. (Akter, 2013)
The “National Health and Nutrition Survey” has played an important role for nutrition policy in Japan, by monitoring both the nutrition and health status of its citizens since 1946. The aim of this survey is to ascertain the actual state of health, food intake, nutritional intake and lifestyle of its citizens, and to obtain basic data for implementing effective measures for health improvement. The survey was conducted among 3,586 households. (National Institute of Health and Nutrition, 2007)
In 2007, among subjects aged 40 to 74 years, 1 out of 2 males and 1 out of 5 females were strongly suspected of having, or likely to develop metabolic syndrome.
The three risk factors that account for the most disease burden in Japan are dietary risks, high blood pressure, and smoking. In 2010, the leading risk factors for children under 5 and adults aged 15 to 49 were zinc deficiency and dietary risks. (Institute for Health Metrics and Evaluation, 2010) Further information on zinc deficiency in the Japanese population is unavailable.
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