Interventions in local communities and work sites through Physical Activity and Nutrition Programme

Abstract

The altered Japanese lifestyle with inactivity and dietary fat increases, together with a rapidly ageing society, has led to obesity and chronic diseases, which present major challenges. Center of Health Promotion, International Life Sciences Institute Japan--ILSI Japan CHP--has therefore initiated Project PAN (Physical Activity and Nutrition) to develop and implement sustainable programmes for physical activity and dietary change. One programme, TAKE10!, is for the elderly and the other is LiSM10! (Lifestyle Modification 10), which develops and implements a comprehensive programme of physical exercise and diet/nutrition education in work sites for at-risk adults over 40 years. The elderly intervention approach was evaluated over 1 year in 1400 elderly people 65 years old and over in a local community in 2002-2003. Behavioural changes were observed with more physical exercise and more meat, fish and shellfish, eggs and milk consumption. Maximum walking speed was maintained regardless of age, and several physiological parameters improved. The LiSM10! involves screening at-risk adults followed by their setting their own objectives with regular face-to-face counselling by experts and systems for family and work site support. An intervention study was conducted in five manufacturing plants during 2001-2003. Both of the programmes, TAKE10! and LiSM10!, have been shown to be an effective way of creating behavioural changes, and the LiSM10! programme in particular can control obesity and lifestyle-related disease. Therefore, ILSI Japan CHP is promoting, with business support, both programmes as a sustainable population intervention for adults.