Related Experiment Video
Updated: Jul 10, 2025
Vinyl Chloride and High-Fat Diet as a Model of Environment and Obesity Interaction
Published on: January 12, 2020
Influence of post-disaster evacuation on childhood obesity and liver dysfunction: The Fukushima Health Management
Mitsuaki Hosoya1,2, Hironori Nakano1,3, Koichi Hashimoto1,2
1Radiation Medical Science Center for the Fukushima Health Management Survey, Fukushima, Japan.
Background:
After the Great East Japan Earthquake and subsequent Fukushima Daiichi Nuclear Power Plant accident in 2011, the Fukushima Prefectural Government launched a long-term health management survey for the population of Fukushima. Results of the Comprehensive Health Check (CHC) showed that some children aged 6-15 years, who resided in the evacuation area at the time of the disaster, had obesity, hyperlipidemia, liver dysfunction, and/or renal dysfunction from as early as 2011. The aim of the present study was to determine the long-term trend of obesity and hepatic enzyme abnormalities in Fukushima children.
Methods:
We evaluated the changes in body mass index standard deviation score (BMI-SDS), aspartate aminotransferase, alanine aminotransferase, and gamma-glutamyl transpeptidase from 2011 to 2018.
Results:
Obesity (BMI-SDS ≥ 2) was significantly associated with hepatobiliary enzyme abnormalities. The mean BMI-SDS was significantly higher in 2011 after the disaster, but then soon showed a gradual decrease. The frequency of obesity did not increase significantly after the disaster. There were no significant differences in the prevalence of hepatobiliary enzyme abnormalities in the children aged 6-15 years of either sex from 2011 to 2018.
Conclusions:
In the present study, we found that the increase in the mean BMI-SDS after the disaster was temporary, suggesting that the frequency of obesity and liver dysfunction might not have been significantly influenced by the disaster.
Related Concept Videos
01:26Stress Prevention and Stress Management Techniques IV
01:24Obesity
01:20Exercise and Cardiovascular Response
Light to moderate physical activity initiates a series of interconnected responses in the body. The heart rate modestly increases in anticipation of the workout, followed by widespread vasodilation as oxygen consumption by skeletal muscles increases. This results in decreased peripheral resistance, increased capillary blood flow, and accelerated...
01:27Introduction to Stress and Lifestyle
01:24Overview of Lipid Metabolism
Lipolysis: The Breakdown of Lipids:
Lipolysis is the process of breaking down lipids, particularly triglycerides, into glycerol and fatty acids. This process typically occurs in the adipose tissue and is triggered by various hormones, including glucagon and...
01:23Binge Eating Disorders