Obesity Health Screening in Japanese School-Aged Children and Adolescents

Addressing obesity in childhood may alleviate disease risk in later life. Using real-world data from a school health obesity screening program, we examined the percentage of overweight (POW) by sex, grade, blood test results, and lifestyle factors to inform programmatic improvements.

We analyzed data from lifestyle-related disease prevention examinations conducted in Setagaya Ward for children and adolescents between 2015 and 2019 (n = 571). Schoolchildren were categorized into three groups based on POW at the school health exam and change in POW at follow-up. Descriptive analyses were performed to identify factors associated with these outcomes.

Comparing the percentage of students in the decreased POW group, 72.3% (115/159) of junior high school students experienced a decrease, compared with 49.5% (204/412) of elementary school students. There was a tendency for no change in POW or increased POW among schoolchildren with higher aspartate aminotransferase, alanine aminotransferase, and total cholesterol. Sleep time tended to be longer in the lower POW group and shorter in the POW 50 group. Television viewing time on weekdays and holidays was shorter in the lower POW groups.

Higher obesity percentages were observed among boys and among children in higher grades. Given the associations with lifestyle factors as well, it may be essential to integrate more targeted health guidance in the screening program.