Japanese lifestyle seen as best for children’s health

UK-Japan News November 2015

Authors Naomi Moriyama and William Doyle have encouraged British parents to adopt Japan’s diet and focus on physical activity, The Scotsman reported on 9 October.

In addition to eating a healthy diet, Japanese children are served food on smaller plates, given snacks in the right amount and frequency and are not taught to demonise unhealthy food. Most children walk to school and have the backing of a culture that supports healthy choices.

Japan has the longest life expectancy and lowest rate of childhood obesity in the world (2.9%), while the UK is ranked 23rd, with childhood obesity at 7.7%.