Use of a pamphlet to encourage individuals to eat slowly to help reduce the development of metabolic syndrome

Objectives: We examined how distributing a pamphlet that encourages individuals to eat food slowly can help reduce the development of metabolic syndrome among workers who regularly undergo health checkups in the workplace. Methods: We prepared an educational dietary pamphlet that provided information on reducing the speed of eating and the importance of eating slowly and distributed it to C municipal officials who visited their workplace clinic for a medical checkup in 2013. We calculated the odds ratio (OR) for the development of metabolic syndrome (MetS) and obesity, defined as having a body mass index (BMI) of 25 kg/m2 or greater, by comparing workers before and after the pamphlet distribution. Results: The educational pamphlet helped to reduce the development of MetS in males (OR: 0.83, 95% confidence interval [CI]: 0.70–1.0), but not in females (OR: 1.5, 95% CI: 0.88–2.4). The pamphlet helped to reduce the development of obesity in females (OR: 0.52, 95% CI: 0.32–0.83), but not in males (OR: 0.87, 95% CI: 0.70–1.1). Conclusions: The distribution of an educational pamphlet that provided information on how to eat food slowly/the importance of eating food slowly helped reduce the development of MetS in males and the development of obesity in females.