Eating Behavior and Dietary Components Associated with Waist Circumference in Japanese Adults: A Cross-Sectional Study

Introduction and Objective: Metabolic syndrome (MetS) is generally attributed to positive energy balance, but associations of visceral fat accumulation with eating behavior and specific nutrient intake remain unclear. This study examined eating behaviors and dietary components associated with waist circumference in health checkup participants. Methods: The study included 339 male manufacturing workers with no prior treatment for metabolic diseases. Participants were classified into a MetS-risk group (waist circumference ≥85 cm) and a non-MetS-risk group (<85 cm) according to Japanese diagnostic criteria. Health checkup data and eating behavior questionnaires were analyzed using the Mann-Whitney U test and multivariable logistic regression. Dietary intake using 3-day photographic dietary records was calculated by registered dietitians using the Standard Tables of Food Composition in Japan. Results: Compared with the non-MetS-risk group(n=124), the MetS-risk group (n=215) differed in health checkup data and eating behavior items. In multivariable logistic regression analysis adjusting for age, weight gain of ≥10 kg since age 20 was the strongest factor associated (odds ratio [OR] 7.90, 95% confidence interval [CI] 4.19-14.89). Higher perceived susceptibility to weight gain, older age, and preference for fatty foods were also independently associated with increased MetS risk, whereas breakfast skipping was inversely associated. Dietary analysis revealed that the non-MetS-risk group consumed significantly higher amounts of chromium, β-carotene, β-carotene equivalents, and soluble dietary fiber, with no differences in total energy or major macronutrient intake. Conclusion: Among health checkup participants without metabolic diseases, individuals at risk for MetS showed differences in specific micronutrient and dietary fiber intake despite similar total energy and macronutrient consumption, suggesting that dietary quality rather than energy intake alone may play a key role in MetS risk reduction. Disclosure: H. Honoki: None. S. Fujisaka: None. M. Yamada: None. S. Inagawa: None. A. Takikawa: None. K. Tobe: None. M. Sekine: None. M. Kato: Speaker's Bureau; Ended; AbbVie Inc., Eli Lilly and Company.