**5. Results**

**Table 1** shows that height, weight and BMI are smaller in old women than old men and MD. There was no difference in weight, height and BMI between lay men and MD.



#### **Table 1.**

*Basic characteristics of participants and amounts of foods intakes.*

**Table 2** Correlations between foods intakes and BMI.

Men (lay or MD) take more salty foods than women. Also men drink more alcohol than women.

**Table 2** shows that there was no correlation between energy, protein, carbohydrate, and lipid intakes and BMI.

Most interestingly, obese MD (high BMI) tend take vegetable protein, dietary fibers and green and yellow vegetables and fruits. Probably obese MD are more concerned about their health, So they intend to take more vegetables or fruits.

#### **6. Discussion**

The prevalence of overweight defined as body mass index (BMI) larger than 25 g/m2 in adults increased from 21.5% in 1975 to 38.9% in 2016 [20]. Generally, people in the poor countries may be lacking nutritional foods, thus being less obese than people in the wealthier countries. However,,as national economic growth increases the prevalence of overweight and obesity shifted to people with lower personal wealth [21–23]. These shits result in increases in people suffering from cardiometabolic diseases and related conditions in poorer population.

Increase in the population of overweight or obesity in affluent countries such as USA have been suggested to be due to decreased physical activity and intakes of highly processed foods.

As stated above, many diet plans were proposed and examined. Among these, low carbohydrate-high protein diets and so called Mediterranean diet have been recommended [4–6].

**Figure 1** shows comparisons of male and female BMI in various countries. As shown, People in wealthier countries do not necessarily have higher BMI. People in Tonga or Samoa in the pacific have unusually high BMI in men and women. Eating habits and genetics may count for this phenomenon. On the other hand people in North Korea or Nepar have very low BMI, possibly due to low intakes of nutritional foods.

Japan is one of the wealthiest countries, her GDP being third in the world. Never the less, Japanese men and women are very lean. BMI of men of Korea and China are in the same level with that of Japanese men, Chinese or Korean women have larger BMI compared with Japanese women.

Comparison of BMI among people in OECD countries, people in USA show one of the largest BMI. Countries of EU such as Germany, France, Checs show that BMI of people in these countries are between USA and most of Asian countries.

Our data indicate that changes in intakes of protein, carbohydrate or fata do not influence BMI. Thus within the range of eating habits no particular foods intakes being about obesity or slimness.


*Food Intakes and Correlations between Food Intakes and Body Mass Index (BMI) in Japanese… DOI: http://dx.doi.org/10.5772/intechopen.98502*

#### **Table 2.**

*Correlation between BMI vs. various foods intakes in men and women.*

**Figure 1.** *BMI of male and female populations in various countries.*

Japanese are very health concerned and are informed about various diet plans and their nutritional meanings by the media. So the amounts of foods taken by Japanese are in the range that a little change do not affect body weights.

There is a so-called Grant studies in which graduates of Harvard University were examined about their health, social status, or psychological or mental health for a long time [24]. We wanted to know whether medical doctors try to be healthier. As **Table 2** indicates there is no difference in weight, height or BMI between lay men and MD. In both groups, the amounts of energy, protein, lipid or carbohydrate taken did not affect BMI. However, MD, with higher BMI tend to take vegetables such as green-yellow vegetables or fruits. They may be quite concerned about keeping healthy.

We want to continue the study to know such differences are shown at the later age.

#### **Acknowledgements**

Experiments were designed and performed by all of the authors. AT wrote a manuscript. Statistical analyses were done by FS. All authors read the manuscript and approved the final version. All the authors had responsibilities for the final content. AT is a chairman of NPO "International Projects on Food and Health". The NPO is financially supported by people who agreed with the purpose of the organization and voluntarily donated for the project. Since no profit is obtained by the present research, there are no conflicts of interest, thus no conflicts of interest for any author. We are really grateful for 1961 alumni of Keio University School of Medicine for the contribution of the present works.

*Food Intakes and Correlations between Food Intakes and Body Mass Index (BMI) in Japanese… DOI: http://dx.doi.org/10.5772/intechopen.98502*
