Foods provided at shelters during a heavy rain disaster: comparison of weighed food records between different numbers of days.

Dietitians working at evacuation shelters conduct weighed food records (WFRs) for multiple days for dietary assessment. Because the menus in evacuation shelters do not change much from day to day, this study examined whether one- and two-day WFRs are sufficient for dietary assessment at shelters and identified dietary components that can influence the number of assessment days. Overall, 26 WFRs were collected from 10 shelters in Kumamoto Prefecture, and the amounts of energy; protein; vitamins B, B and C and salt were calculated.

Association between Disaster Knowledge Level and the First Step of Stockpiling Food for a Disaster.

This study clarifies the association between disaster knowledge levels and beginning to stockpile food at home as a disaster preparedness. This survey was conducted between 18-20 December 2019 using a self-administered web-based questionnaire. The participants were recruited from panel members of an online survey company.

Users' Perspective on Revised Simple Simulator for Calculating Nutritional Food Stocks in Preparation for Large-scale Disasters.

Objective: In 2020, Japan's Ministry of Health, Labour and Welfare developed an Excel workbook entitled "Simple Simulator for calculating nutritional food stocks in preparation for large-scale disasters." In September 2021, it was modified as the "Revised Simulator" to plan food stockpiles in normal times and post-disaster meals. This study aimed to further improve the Revised Simulator.

Children's Diet and Nutrition in the Aftermath of the Torrential Rain Disaster in Western Japan: An Evaluation of Support Activities by Dietitians to Alleviate Mothers' Anxieties.

Objective: The purpose of this study was to clarify whether the support activities of dietitians during disasters were able to address the problems faced by mothers about their children's diet and nutrition.

Methods: Dietitians (7 in total) and mothers (8) were selected by the snowball sampling method. Semi-structured interviews were used to conduct focus group interviews about children's diet and nutrition.

Associations Between Lifestyle Factors and Constipation Among Survivors After the Great East Japan Earthquake: A 9-year Follow-up Study.

Background: Disaster survivors experience deterioration in lifestyles and an increase in constipation. After the Great East Japan Earthquake in 2011, some survivors were evacuated for a long term, even after moving to temporary housing and public reconstruction housing. However, annual changes in constipation and the association between lifestyles and constipation among the survivors are still unknown.

Revision of "Nutritional Reference Values for Feeding at Evacuation Shelters" and Model Menus: A Qualitative Study.

Objective: In 2011, the Japanese government issued nutritional reference values for energy; protein; vitamins B, B, and C; and salt to deal with poor meal quality in evacuation shelters. Because they were not widely used owing to their impracticality, the authors had examined the values according to the experience-based opinions of public health dietitians. Furthermore, we developed a usage tool containing a model menu that meets these values.

Meal plans for meeting the reference values using food items available in shelters.

Background: We have suggested "Revised Nutritional Reference Values for Feeding at Evacuation Shelters" (Revised RV) as a daily nutritional recommendation for meals served at evacuation shelters where poor diets had been reported. Since there are no meal examples to satisfy the Revised RV, our objectives were, for the future meal provision, to develop nutritionally adequate meal plans using the foods served at shelters in the past and to examine if the Revised RV could be met by changing combination of foods available.

Methods: In this case study using secondary data, we analyzed food weights of 86 meals served and recorded at 12 shelters after the heavy rains in July 2020.

Validity and reproducibility of food photographic estimation for evaluating meals in evacuation shelters.

Objective: The primary goal was to evaluate the validity of food photographic estimation for nutritional assessment compared with weighed food record (WFR).

Methods: We evaluated the validity and reproducibility of photographic estimation of foods provided in evacuation shelters. We analyzed 35 meals served at 12 shelters in Kumamoto Prefecture in Japan, affected by a heavy rain disaster in 2020.

Attitudes toward using "Simple simulator for calculating nutritional food stocks in preparation for large-scale disasters" among local governmental personnel and public health dietitians in Japan: An explanatory mixed methods study.

The Japanese Ministry of Health, Labour and Welfare compiled an Excel sheet - "Simple simulator for calculating nutritional food stocks in preparation for large-scale disasters" (Simulator). We examined the level of recognition and use of the Simulator by local governments and identified the points for its improvement. In stage 1, we surveyed local government personnel who participated in the "Workshop for nutrition assistance during large-scale disasters" held in November 2020 (n = 458; 313 responded) with an online questionnaire on the use of the Simulator and associated issues.

Frontiers in Disaster Nutrition: Evidence to Action.

The need for food and nutrition assistance has increased due to the frequent occurrence of disasters and pandemics, such as coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19). However, after a disaster, food and nutrition are insufficient in terms of quantity and quality. In the case of the Great East Japan earthquake, the improvement factors for food and nutrition at emergency shelters included 1) emergency shelter size and equipment, 2) provision and content of meals, 3) collaboration among professionals, and 4) cooperation between shelters.

Similarities between Disaster Food and Space Food.

Disaster and space environments are similar in that they are closed environment, with limited lifelines. Here, we examined the similarity between disaster food and space food, to explore interactive problem-solving of food support for disaster and space environments. The Japan Disaster Food Certification Standards (Japan Disaster Food Society) and the Japanese Space Food Certification Standards (Japan Aerospace Exploration Agency) requirements and certified products, which were posted on the websites as of June 16, 2021, were compared.

Usefulness of Simple Meal Screening Using Dietary Assessment Sheets for Evacuation Shelters.

To maintain the health of evacuees, meals provided at emergency shelters should be monitored and improvement measures should be taken where necessary. Time and human resources are limited during devastating disasters; thus, the authors have developed the Dietary Assessment Sheets for Evacuation Shelters. This study examines whether the quality of meals can be assessed using simple check items on the Dietary Assessment Sheets.

Seven-year incidence of new-onset hypertension by frequency of dairy intake among survivors of the Great East Japan Earthquake.

Survivors of natural disasters are at a high risk of cardiovascular disease. Behavioral risk factors, including modifiable diet, need to be identified. Thus far, the association between dairy intake and new-onset hypertension among these survivors is unknown.

Association between personality traits and food stockpiling for disaster.

This study investigated the association between personality traits and food stockpiling for disasters in predicted high-risk areas of food shortages due to the Nankai Trough Earthquake. This survey was conducted between December 18 and 20, 2019, using a web-based questionnaire. The participants were 1,200 individuals registered with an online survey company.

Revising "Nutritional Reference Values for Feeding at Evacuation Shelters" According to Nutrition Assistance by Public Health Dietitians Based on Past Major Natural Disasters in Japan: A Qualitative Study.

It is important to provide nutritionally adequate food in shelters to maintain the health of evacuees. Since the Great East Japan Earthquake in 2011, Japan's Ministry of Health, Labour and Welfare has released the "Nutritional Reference Values for Evacuation Shelters" (Reference Values) after every major natural disaster. There is clear evidence, however, that the Reference Values have only been used infrequently.

Association between Lifestyle Changes and at-Home Hours during and after the State of Emergency Due to the COVID-19 Pandemic in Japan.

Lifestyle changes during the coronavirus disease (COVID-19) lockdown have been previously examined, but there is limited understanding about changes after such restrictions were lifted. This study examines changes in lifestyle habits and body weight among the Japanese population with regard to the length of at-home hours both during (April to May) and after (September) the nationwide stay-at-home request compared to those before the COVID-19 pandemic (January 2020). An online survey was conducted in September 2020 involving 10,000 Japanese survey monitors, selected according to population distribution.

Association between Health Practice and Food Stockpiling for Disaster.

In this study investigated the association between health practices and food stockpiling for disasters in predicted areas with a high risk of food shortage due to the Nankai Trough earthquake. A survey was conducted during 18-20 December 2019 using a self-administered web-based questionnaire. In total, 1200 individuals registered with an online survey company participated in the study.

Association between the prevalence of hypertension and dairy consumption by housing type among survivors of the Great East Japan Earthquake.

Survivors of the Great East Japan Earthquake in 2011 had higher risks of cardiovascular diseases and hypertension, particularly residents of heavy flooding areas and evacuees. Thus far, the association between the prevalence of hypertension and dairy consumption remains unknown among these evacuees. We investigated this association by housing type after the Great East Japan Earthquake.

Prolonged Maternal and Child Health, Food and Nutrition Problems after the Kumamoto Earthquake: Semantic Network Analysis of Interviews with Dietitians.

Infants need sufficient nutrients even during disasters. Only qualitative descriptive analysis has been reported regarding nutritional problems of mothers and children after the Kumamoto earthquake, and non-subjective analysis is required. This study examined issues concerning maternal and child health, food and nutrition after the Kumamoto earthquake using automatic computer quantitative analysis from focus group interviews (FGIs).

Analysis of Necessary Support in the 2011 Great East Japan Earthquake Disaster Area.

Altogether, 1588 dietitians were dispatched from the Japan Dietetic Association (JDA) to a disaster area for the first time on a nationwide scale following the 2011 Great East Japan Earthquake. Various studies have been conducted based on the activity reports, but the support that the disaster area requested was not documented. The purpose of this study is to identify the support that was needed in the disaster area.

Local Governments' Disaster Emergency Communication and Information Collection for Nutrition Assistance.

We examined local governments' disaster emergency communication and information collection and distribution systems. Postal surveys were conducted for all prefectures, cities with public health centers, and specified districts in Tokyo Metropolis in 2005 and 2013. Municipalities were included in the 2013 survey only.

[The effect of lunch box provision and mass feeding on energy and nutrient supply at emergency shelters after the Great East Japan Earthquake].

Objectives　Improvement in the quality of meals provided after a disaster is an important issue. We reanalyzed the data obtained from the dietary survey of emergency shelters in Miyagi Prefecture 2 and 3 months after the Great East Japan Earthquake in 2011 to improve the quality of meals at emergency shelters.Methods　We performed a secondary analysis of the data from the dietary survey conducted by the Miyagi prefectural government.

Comparison of Nutrient Reference Values for Food Labeling in Japan with CODEX Recommendations, Based on DRIs and Nutrient Intake in Japan.

To clarify the degree of consistency between the international recommendations and the national Japanese system, the nutrient reference values (NRVs) adopted by the CODEX were compared with current Japanese NRVs 2015, the dietary reference intakes for Japanese (DRIs-J) 2015, and actual nutrient intake levels by the Japanese population. The Japanese NRV for protein was high relative to CODEX NRV-R (i.e.

[The effects of changes in the meal providing system on emergency shelter menus following the Great East Japan Earthquake].

Objectives　To assess the improvement of the menus by the meal providing system in emergency shelters, we reanalyzed the data obtained from the dietary survey at emergency shelters in the Miyagi Prefecture one month after the Great East Japan Earthquake in 2011.Methods　We performed secondary use of the dietary survey conducted by the Miyagi prefectural government. In total, 386 emergency shelters participated in the dietary survey of one day in April 2011.