Objective: This study was conducted to review the trends observed in studies concerning the associations of a behavior of “eating together” with health status and dietary intake in Japan.
Methods: Articles published between 2001 and 2011 were accessed using two databases (CiNii and “Igaku chuo zasshi”) and articles were retrieved using the search terms “eating together” OR “eating alone” OR (family AND together AND meal). In addition, three journals (Japanese Journal of Health Education and Promotion, Japanese Journal of Nutrition and Dietetics, and Journal of Home Economics of Japan) were manually reviewed. After screening titles, abstracts, and full texts, 20 articles were included in this review.
Results: All articles were cross-sectional studies and 11 articles targeted schoolchildren and adolescents. To assess an “eating meal” behavior, 11 articles used family meal frequency per week. A higher family meal frequency was associated with better mental health (6 of 7 articles), but not with better physique. Further, those with a higher family meal frequency were more likely to have better diets (3 of 3), eat healthful foods more frequently (3 of 6) and report better diet quality (1 of 1). There were no associations with nutrient intake (0 of 1).
Conclusion: Family meal frequency was positively associated with better mental health and the frequency of healthful foods. All the analyzed articles were cross-sectional studies and most studies targeted for children, so further studies, including longitudinal studies, are necessary in Japan.

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Objective: To examine the relationship between changes in eating speed and changes in metabolic syndrome (MetS) parameters among Japanese adults.
Methods: In this study, we collected two years' worth (2010 and 2011) of data of participants working at a financial corporation. We analyzed the data of participants who answered “average” or “slow” to the question regarding eating speed at baseline, and those who also answered the same question at follow-up (1,794 participants; 825 males and 969 females). First, we assigned those who answered “average” or “slow” at the follow-up to the maintenance group (n = 1,651), and those who answered “fast” to the change group (n = 143). We then compared the characteristics, lifestyle, and changes in MetS parameters between the two groups.
Results: Among male participants, we found significant differences in body mass index (BMI), as well as in abdominal circumference between the two groups; scores on these parameters increased more in the change group than in the maintenance group (BMI; p = 0.020, AC; p = 0.003). Significant differences were also found in BMI and abdominal circumference among females; scores on these parameters increased more in the change group than in the maintenance group (BMI; p = 0.002, AC; p = 0.002).
Conclusions: Eating faster was positively associated with gains of BMI and abdominal circumference both among males and females over 1 year.

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Objective: The present study was conducted to examine the effects of providing equipment for use during school recess on elementary school children's physical activity.
Methods: In this cross-sectional study, 98 fifth-grade children (63 boys) from two elementary schools were assigned to an intervention group (n = 39) or a control group (n = 59). The intervention group received equipment such as volleyballs and oval balls. The children's physical activity was measured using accelerometry before and three months after receiving the equipment. Evaluated indicators were time spent engaging in sedentary, light, moderate, and vigorous physical activity during break, lunch recess, and the entire school day. Analysis of covariance—with sex, body mass index, and physical activity level prior to receipt of the equipment as covariates—was performed to examine the differences between two groups with respect to physical activity after receiving the equipment.
Results: During break, lunch recess, and the entire school day, data were collected from 23, 25, and 18 children in the intervention group. In the control group, it was done from 41, 42, and 37 children, respectively. During break and lunch recess, the intervention group was less likely to engage in sedentary behavior (p = 0.01, p < 0.01) and more likely to engage in light physical activity (p < 0.01, p < 0.01) than the control group. Regarding vigorous physical activity during break, the intervention group was less likely to engage in vigorous physical activity (p = 0.02). During the entire school day, the intervention group was more likely to engage in moderate physical activity (p = 0.03) than the control group.
Conclusion: The availability of equipment for use during recess was associated with high levels of physical activity.

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This paper is an attempt to suggest health promotion in the near future. It's main foci of attention consist of the following ten points: 1. The 1980s when the Ottawa Charter was set up: 2. The Features of the Ottawa Charter and the Bangkok Charter and the differences between these two charters; 4. The social determinants of health; 4. Kickbusch's idea of health promotion: from health education to health promotion; 5. My own driving strategy of health promotion in Japan; 6. The laymen's subjective definitions of health; 7. Who creates health and where; 8. The trump of health differences (vital elements of health differences); 9. Health promotion to give support to a happiness in life; and 10. The philosophy of health promotion.
Health promotion is a process of enabling to increase control over their health and its determinants, thereby improve their health. (Bangkok Charter, 2005). Such a process requires direct involvement of individuals and communities in achieving changes, and health promotion thus should involve the full participation of all the people in the development of their health. Man actually has a big chance to create health and happiness. We should all try to take part in health promotion activities.

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