Table 2

Estimated changes in mean body mass index of preschool children after the great east Japan earthquake in the affected (Fukushima, Miyagi and Iwate) prefectures and unaffected prefectures in northeast Japan

Time pointAffected prefectureUnaffected areas*Interaction term vs unaffected areas*p Value for interaction term
Fukushima, boys (n=646)
 October 2010000–
 April 2011+0.074+0.036+0.0400.29
 October 2011−0.035−0.043+0.0110.78
 April 2012+0.154+0.116+0.0410.28
 October 2012+0.282+0.148+0.1370.0003
Fukushima, girls (n=597)
 October 2010000–
 April 2011+0.110+0.021+0.0870.023
 October 2011+0.014−0.030+0.0420.27
 April 2012+0.180+0.056+0.1220.0013
 October 2012+0.290+0.088+0.200<0.0001
Miyagi, boys (n=904)
 October 2010000–
 April 2011+0.086+0.036+0.0480.14
 October 2011−0.117−0.043−0.0760.018
 April 2012−0.047+0.116−0.165<0.0001
 October 2012−0.069+0.148−0.218<0.0001
Miyagi, girls (n=854)
 October 2010000–
 April 2011+0.085+0.021+0.0610.057
 October 2011−0.084−0.030−0.0570.077
 April 2012+0.033+0.056−0.0260.42
 October 2012+0.009+0.088−0.0820.011
Iwate, boys (n=483)
 October 2010000–
 April 2011+0.200+0.036+0.165<0.0001
 October 2011−0.004−0.043+0.0400.32
 April 2012+0.135+0.116+0.0200.62
 October 2012+0.152+0.148+0.0060.88
Iwate, girls (n=458)
 October 2010000–
 April 2011+0.146+0.021+0.1240.0019
 October 2011+0.028−0.030+0.0570.15
 April 2012+0.095+0.056+0.0380.33
 October 2012+0.123+0.088+0.0340.40

  • All values are reported as kg/m2.

  • *Unaffected refers to Yamagata, Akita and Aomori prefectures in northeast Japan.