Abstract
Objective: A study on persons receiving Specific Health Guidance reported that a reduction in weight of at least 3% improved clinical test results. In the present study, we aimed to determine lifestyle habits making it easier for large numbers of people receiving Specific Health Guidance to achieve a decrease in weight. The participants were men receiving active support and we carried out an investigation to see if there was an association between lifestyle habits at the time of the initial specific health check-up and presence or absence of a decrease in weight thereafter.
Methods: We used data from 155 medical insurer facilities that consented to participate in the present study. The subjects were 4,266 men ranging in age from 40 to 64 years who in 2011 had been determined to require active support and had completed the course of health guidance from among 969,777 individuals who underwent specific health check-up in fiscal 2011, 2012 and 2013. To be determined as “achieved weight reduction” participants had to have a reduction of at least 3%. We examined associations between lifestyle habits determined by the medical interview during the specific health check-up in 2011 and achievement of weight reduction over 2 years using logistic regression analysis.
Results: After 1 and 2 years 33.2% and 35.4% had achieved a reduction in weight, respectively. A reduction in both years was achieved by 23.2% and those not achieving a reduction accounted for 54.5%. Among lifestyle habits, there was a significant association between “Don’t eat dinner in the 2 hours before going to bed” and achievement of weight reduction over 2 years (p=0.006).
Conclusion: Our findings suggested the possibility that achievement of weight reduction would be enhanced if men receiving Specific Heath Guidance could be persuaded not to eat dinner in the 2 hours before going to bed as a start.
