Osaka: Elementary school children who eat quickly and chew inadequately are more likely to be obese, a research team in Japan has discovered.
According to Philippines News Agency, this recent study has shed light on the impact of eating habits on childhood obesity, an area previously less explored compared to adult obesity.
The study was led by Kazunori Ikebe, a professor at the University of Osaka’s Graduate School of Dentistry. It involved 1,403 fourth-grade students in Osaka, who were surveyed about their eating habits. Their chewing ability was evaluated using a special color-changing gum to determine its effectiveness.
Out of all the participants, 167 children were found to be obese. The researchers identified that those with poor chewing ability were 1.54 times more likely to be obese. Fast eaters were at an even higher risk, being 1.73 times more likely to be obese. Additionally, children who ate with their mouths full had a 1.29 times greater risk of obesity.
“In 9 to 10-year-old children, eating fast, eating with mouth full and lower masticatory performance were linked to obesity, particularly in boys,” the researchers noted. They further added that the risk was significantly higher when both fast eating and poor chewing habits were present, suggesting a compounded effect of these behaviors on childhood obesity.
