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Background We investigated the prevalence and trends of underweight and overweight/obesity in a population-based sample of Japanese schoolchildren from 2003 to 2012, defined by body mass index (BMI) and percentage overweight (POW). Methods Subjects comprised fourth and seventh graders from the town of Ina, Japan, from 2003 to 2012. The height and weight of each subject were measured. Children were classified as underweight, normal weight, or overweight/obese using two criteria: BMI cutoff points proposed by the International Obesity Task Force and cutoffs based on POW in Japan. Results Data from 4367 fourth graders and 3724 seventh graders were analyzed. The prevalence of underweight and overweight as defined by POW criteria were lower than those based on BMI criteria. There was a decrease in the prevalence of overweight among fourth-grade boys and girls and seventh-grade girls according to BMI; this decrease was also observed when POW criteria were used for the definition of overweight. Conclusions The prevalence and trends of both underweight and overweight as defined by POW were underestimated among Japanese schoolchildren compared to those determined using BMI. The results of this study also suggest that trends in underweight and overweight/obesity using POW criteria are similar to those based on BMI criteria among schoolchildren in Japan.

BACKGROUND Monitoring secular trends in blood pressure (BP) among children is important in predicting subsequent hypertension and cardiovascular disease. We investigated secular trends in BP using data from population-based annual screenings of Japanese schoolchildren. METHODS The participants were 10 894 children (all fourth graders between 1994 and 2010 and all seventh graders between 1997 and 2010) living in the town of Ina in Saitama Prefecture, Japan. Body height, weight, and BP were measured, after which children were classified as non-overweight, overweight, or obese. Trends in variables relative to calendar year were analyzed using regression models. RESULTS Systolic BP was significantly associated with calendar year among fourth- and seventh-grade boys (-0.350 and -0.434 mm Hg/year, respectively) and fourth- and seventh-grade girls (-0.513 and -0.473 mm Hg/year, respectively) (all P < 0.001), respectively, over time. Systolic BP and calendar year were significantly negatively correlated regardless of physique or sex among all fourth graders, but not among obese seventh-grade girls. In addition, diastolic BP and calendar year did not significantly correlate among seventh-grade overweight or obese boys or obese seventh-grade girls. CONCLUSIONS BP decreased among fourth-grade schoolchildren in Ina during the past 17 years, regardless of sex or physique. However, BP and calendar year did not significantly correlate among obese seventh graders.

Background: Habitual coffee consumption has been reported to lower blood pressure in the Japanese population. The NADH dehydrogenase subunit-2 237 leucine/methionine (ND2-237 Leu/Met) polymorphism is associated with longevity and modifies the effects of alcohol consumption on blood pressure in the Japanese population. The objective of this study was to determine whether this polymorphism also modifies the effects of coffee consumption on blood pressure or the risk of hypertension in middle-aged Japanese men.Methods: A total of 398 men (mean age ± standard deviation, 53.8 ± 7.8 years) were selected from among individuals visiting the hospital for regular medical check-ups. Hypertension was defined as a systolic blood pressure ≥140 mm Hg, diastolic blood pressure ≥90 mm Hg, or antihypertensive drug treatment. Polymerase chain reaction-restriction fragment length polymorphism using the restriction enzyme AluI was performed to determine ND2-237 Leu/Met genotype.Results: In subjects with ND2-237Leu, coffee consumption was significantly and negatively associated with diastolic blood pressure (P = 0.007). The odds ratio (OR) for hypertension was significantly lower in subjects with ND2-237Leu who consumed 2 or 3 cups of coffee per day than in those who consumed less than 1 cup of coffee per day (OR, 0.517; 95% confidence interval [CI], 0.276 to 0.968; P = 0.039). After adjustment, the OR remained significant (OR = 0.399; 95% CI, 0.184 to 0.869; P = 0.020). Moreover, after adjustment, the OR was significantly lower in subjects with ND2-237Leu who consumed more than 4 cups of coffee per day than in those who consumed less than 1 cup of coffee per day (OR, 0.246; 95% CI, 0.062 to 0.975; P = 0.046). However, the association between ND2-237Met genotype and hypertension did not depend on coffee consumption.Conclusions: The present results suggest that the ND2-237 Leu/Met polymorphism modulates the effects of coffee consumption on hypertension risk in middle-aged Japanese men.

Background: Although the prevalences of obesity and hypertension (HT) are increasing in children, there have been few epidemiological studies of HT in Japanese children. We evaluated the prevalences of HT and high-normal blood pressure (HNBP), and examined the relationship between blood pressure (BP) and body mass index (BMI), in Japanese children. Methods: The subjects of this study were 2420 children living in the town of Ina, Saitama Prefecture, Japan during the period from 2006 through 2008. Body height, weight, and BP were measured. HT and HNBP were defined according to the HT criteria for Japanese children. Children with HNBP or HT were defined as having high blood pressure (HBP). Results: The prevalences of HBP were 15.9% and 15.8% in fourth-grade boys and girls, respectively, and 11.1% and 10.8% in seventh-grade boys and girls, respectively. Irrespective of sex or grade level, a higher BMI was associated with a higher prevalence of HBP (P < 0.001). When compared with the