2026 Volume 33 Issue 5 Pages 589-606
Aim: Specific Health Checkups (SHCs) and Specific Health Guidance (SHG) were launched in 2008, but the factors related to their effectiveness have not been clarified. We examined the mean reduction in body weight (BW) and waist circumference (WC) of participants eligible for active support under SHG. Body size was considered, as well as the number of support points given during SHG, which indicates the amount of support they received.
Methods: A dataset of participants (aged 40–64) who were eligible for SHG and had SHC results collected between 2011 and 2012 was analyzed (n = 76,565). The mean changes in BW and WC between 2011 and 2012 were compared among participants based on their participation status (did not participate, dropped out, finished) and the number of support points for those who finished. Participants were also stratified by sex and BMI (kg/m2): normal weight, overweight, and obese.
Results: The mean BW change (95% CI) for those who did not participate and finished SHG was −0.45 kg (−0.47, −0.43) and −1.32 kg (−1.39, −1.25) in men, and −0.66 kg (−0.72, −0.60) and −1.68 kg (−1.87, −1.49) in women, respectively. Higher support points and larger body sizes correlated with greater reductions in BW in men (P＜0.001), but the associations were not significant in women. The reduction in WC was greater in women with normal weight than in obese women.
Conclusion: Sex differences were observed in the association between BW/WC reduction and body size or the amount of support given during SHG.
