2024 Volume 6 Issue 1 Pages 13-18
[Objective] This study aimed to investigate effective activities for obesity prevention among postpartum women, by exploring the current implementation status of health guidance on weight management for postpartum women at municipality level in Aomori prefecture.
[Methods] Self-administered questionnaire survey was conducted on health centers of all 40 municipalities (cities, towns, villages) in Aomori prefecture. Survey components included; implementation status of health guidance on weight management for postpartum women, its method, setting the target weight, duration of health guidance, setting and scheme of health guidance, and health checkup and guidance on weight management for those aged under 40 years with an aim to prevent lifestyle-related diseases.
[Results] Out of 40 municipalities, 28 (70.0%) responded to the survey. Of which, 13 health centers (46.4%) implemented health guidance on weight management for postpartum women. As for the health checkup for those aged under 40 years with an aim to prevent lifestyle-related diseases, 24 health centers (85.7%) responded that they implanted it.
[Conclusion] Only less than half of 40 municipalities implemented the health guidance on weight management for postpartum women. It is crucial, regardless of their occupation status, to establish a system where they could receive the annual health checkups continuously, and secure opportunities for them to receive face-to-face health guidance and information from the health professionals as needed, so as to prevent obesity and lifestyle-related diseases from an early stage.
