Large-scale web-based survey on eating behaviour in the Japanese general population using a dietary behaviour...

Identifying habitual patterns of eating behaviour underlying obesity is essential for effective weight loss interventions. This study aimed to clarify differences in eating behaviours among obese individuals in a large-scale Japanese population.

We analysed data from an online survey completed by 17 766 individuals aged 20-69 years. Eating behaviours were assessed using the Dietary Behaviour Questionnaire from the Japan Society for the Study of Obesity. Differences in the seven eating behaviour domains were examined by sex (Wilcoxon rank-sum test), age (Steel test with the 20s as the reference), and BMI category (Steel-Dwass test), classified as normal weight (18.5 to <25 kg/m²), overweight (25 to <30 kg/m²), or obese (≥30 kg/m²).

Among the normal-weight subjects, females scored higher than males in all domains except 'Way of Eating' and 'Dietary Content', whereas the eating behaviour scores declined with age across all of the domains in both sexes. Across the BMI categories, scores for all of the domains significantly increased with increasing obesity levels in both sexes. Particularly in males, significant differences were also observed between overweight and obese subjects. Additionally, age-related declines in scores were less pronounced among obese individuals. Furthermore, significant positive correlations between scores for all domains and BMI were observed in both sexes, even after adjusting for age.

Our findings revealed significant differences in a wide range of eating behaviours across sex, age, and obesity levels. These results may contribute to the development of evidence-based strategies for the treatment of obesity disease.