Latest news with #Iizuka
Medscape
20-05-2025
- Health
- Medscape
Meal Type, Not Sequence, Affects Duration, Eating Behavior
Meal type, not sequence, affected meal duration, the number of chews, and chewing tempo, with implications for obesity prevention. METHODOLOGY: A total of 41 participants (18 men, 23 women) with an average age of 41.1 years consumed two different meal types — pizza or hamburger steak bento (includes rice and broccoli), with variations in the order of vegetable consumption. Researchers measured meal duration, number of chews, bites, and chewing tempo using the Bitescan device; dietary habits and nutrient intake in the preceding month using a Brief-Type Self-Administered Diet History Questionnaire; and grip strength. TAKEAWAY: Meal type affects meal duration, number of chews, and chewing tempo. Bento meals (vegetables first or last) resulted in longer meal durations than pizza, with mean differences of −182 seconds (vegetables first) and −216 seconds (vegetables last). No significant differences in meal duration were seen based on the order of vegetable consumption. The number of bites was similar across all meal types. IN PRACTICE: 'Serving foods individually and eating with chopsticks may be effective in providing nutritional guidance for individuals with obesity because this strategy increases meal duration and the number of chews,' the authors wrote. 'To continue eating slowly to prevent obesity, we must not only take smaller bites and chew well when eating but also pay attention to the food we choose.' SOURCE: Katsumi Iizuka, MD, of Fujita Health University, Toyoake, Japan, was principal investigator for the study, which was published online in Nutrients . LIMITATIONS: The study had limitations. It was exploratory, not a randomized, comparative study. In addition, the researchers did not assess participants' number of teeth or their condition, which could affect chewing, or psychological factors that may have affected eating time. DISCLOSURES: This research received funding from the Suzuken Memorial Foundation. Iizuka declared having no competing interests.
NHK
01-05-2025
- Politics
- NHK
Japanese abductees' relatives ask more senior US officials for support
Relatives of Japanese nationals abducted by North Korea have asked senior US administration officials and lawmakers for help in bringing their loved ones back home. Yokota Takuya, Iizuka Koichiro and their supporters have been in Washington since Tuesday. Yokota Takuya is the younger brother of Yokota Megumi, who was abducted at age 13. Iizuka's mother, Taguchi Yaeko, was taken when he was a year old. In a meeting with Representative Jill Tokuda on Wednesday, Yokota stressed that 47 years have passed since his sister was abducted, and the issue has still not been resolved. He said he feels strong anger toward the North Korean authorities. Yokota noted that his mother is 89 years old and time is running out. He pleaded for help in letting his mother reunite with Megumi. Tokuda said that they must be united and stand shoulder to shoulder to bring all the abductees home. Yokota and Iizuka later met senior White House officials in charge of national security. Iizuka reportedly asked that the abduction issue be put on the agenda if US President Donald Trump and North Korean leader Kim Jong Un hold another summit. Yokota told reporters that he feels they now have more people on their side. He added it is the families' mission as well as that of the Japanese government to turn the support into action.
