Vegetable, Dietary Fiber Consumption and Obesity in Japan and the United States

Abstract

The US and Japanese populations do not meet recommended DF intakes. This study indicated the relationship between the variety of vegetables available in markets and vegetable consumption in the US and Japan. The number of vegetables available in markets was determined using online resources from five markets in each country. Mean number of vegetable products in the US was 104.4 products (SD: ±36.8) and mean number of vegetable products in the Japanese markets was 120.2 products (SD: ±15.6). There was no significant relationship between the variety of vegetables in markets and vegetable consumption between the US and Japan. This study identified how to measure the variety of vegetables available in markets through online resources. Future studies should consider more effective methodology to measure the variety of vegetables, increase sample size, and find accurate resources, such as for the measurement of food diversity and more detailed data from NHANES and NHNS.