Eating patterns, weight status and egogram characteristics among Japanese pupils

The purpose of this study was to investigate the actual conditions of eating patterns and the relationships among eating patterns, degree of overweightness and egogram characteristics among pupils. The subjects were 871 boys and girls whose grades ranged from 4th to 6th. They were selected from five elementary schools in Hirosaki and its suburbs, Japan. They were classified into the following 5 groups by the degree of overweightness: lean group, standard group, slightly obese group, moderately obese group, and extremely obese group. Eating patterns were measured by questionnaries, and AN-egogram was used for the measurement of egogram characteristics.The results were as follows: 1. The ego state of pupils who eat their favorite dish even with a full stomach showed significantly lower A (adult) qualities and higher FC (free child) qualities than those who would not eat in this situation. The egogram pattern of the former pupils exhibited the NP (nurturing parent)-low type. 2. The egogram pattern of pupils who engage in substitutive food intake exhibited the NP-low type. 3. Significant differences existed among the ego states CP (critical parent), NP, A, and FC as to reasons given for eating between meals. 4. The egogram pattern of the person who eats between meals at the time of "an empty stomach" showed a flat type of ego state with relatively low NP. The person who eats "just at meal time" showed an A-dominant type. The person who eats "when food is present" showed an NP - low type with relatively low CP. 5. The ego state A was significandy less common in the extremely obese group than in the lean group. 6. The egogram pattern of the lean, standard, and slightly obese groups showed an A - dominant type of ego state, and that of moderately and extremely obese groups showed an AC-dominant type with CP slightly high.