To identify factors associated with obesity in schoolchildren, we performed a physical examination and a questionnaire concerning heredity, exercise, eating habits, and stress on 248 children in the fourth grade of 3 primary schools in Saitama Prefecture, Japan. Prevalence of overweight (≥+20% of standard weight) in children was higher when both of their parents were obese (BMI≥25) than when only one parent was obese. In boys. prevalence of overweight was lowest when both parents were not obese.
Overweight compared with non-overweight children had higher levels of total cholesterol and blood pressure, did not like physical exercise nor exercise regularly, felt much stress, tended to eat up everything served for school lunch, and were often advised not to overeat by their parents. However, overweight children did not have snacks as often as non-overweight ones. To determine the associations of these lifestyle-related factors with obesity in schoolchildren, multiple analysis was conducted using quantification method II; the following factors were found positively related with obesity: “Advised by parents not to overeat, ”“can not concentrate well” (both boys and girls), “feel lonesome” (boys), “feel like getting angry at anybody.”“eat up everything served for school lunch” (girls), Children who were non-overweight and advised not to overeat often practiced eating habits which cause obesity such as“eat after supper” (boys), “eat without chewing well, ”“eat until stomach filled” (girls) ; however, in spite of these eating attitudes, they still remained non-overweight.

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Two questionnaire studies (the first in 1993; the second in 1995) were administered to the middle aged and the elderly females in a health-gymnastics class (n=175) . The questionnaire measured psycho-social factors using our Physical Exercise Behavior Scales, the Confidence of Health Management Scale, Geriatric Depression Scale and CES-D Scale. The purpose of this study was: (1) to investigate changes in psycho-social factors from the continuous participance to the class ; and (2) to examine differences in psycho-social factors between physical exercise continued (n=107) and noncontinued (n=36) members of the class, on the one hand; and also between physical exercise continued (n=107) and new class members (n=32), on the other.
The results were as follows: (1) The scales had validity, reliability and relevance to the middle aged and the elderly females. (2) Confidence in physical exercise and in health management was enhanced by continuous participance to the class. (3) There was significant difference in behavioral sense like leading exercise and emotional support from peers between continued members and noncontinued members of the class and the former has high. (4) There was significant difference in the depression (CES-D) levels between the exercise continued and new class members and the later has relatively high depression. And (5) Subjects with over 11 years physical exercise involvement had significantly lower depression (Geriatric Depression Scale) . Subjects with under 1 year physical exercise involvement had significantly high depression (CES-D) . Subjects with over 11 years physical exercise involvement had high confidence of physical exercise and of health management.

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With the purpose of studying the nutrition education program for the primary prevention of cardiovascular diseases (CD), a questionary survey was conducted assessing knowledge, self efficacy and behavior on eating habits. The subjects, of the survey, about 3, 200 in total, were students in elementary schools (E Sch) and junior high schools (JH Sch) in Hyogo and Osaka prefectures.
1) it is thought that terms “cholesterol and dietary fiber” and foods rich in those ingredients could be taught during grades 4-6 of E Sch. Fewer than 10% of the students recognized the term “linoleic acid” in JH Sch.
2) Students who recognized that cholesterol is a risk factor for CD, were about 44% of both boys and girls in grade 4 of E Sch. But, in grades 5-6 of E Sch, the recognition of the same problem was 4-7% higher for male students than for female students. However, in grade 3 of JH Sch, a large disparity was shown male (55.4%) and female (82.8%) students who recognized that cholesterol is a risk factor for CD. The results of questions on dietary fiber were considered to have the same tendency as those for cholesterol, from grade 3 of E Sch to grade 3 of JH Sch.
3) It was shown that self-efficacy promoted healthy eating habits.

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The Japanese elderly population has been rapidly increasing in recent years, therefore the quality of life for the elderly is an important theme to investigate. The purpose of this study is to investigate the influence of the welfare facilities on elderly persons activities and perceived health at first, and then to forecast future needs for them.
The subjects of the investigation were 157 users of the welfare facility at Katsushika Ward. The results were as follows:
1. The health of the users of the welfare facility was fine.
They were conscious of the body and mind in their life.
2. They were using the welfare facility for a long time, and they came many times in one month.
Although the welfare facility can be a form of motivation for the elderly to go out, it is difficult for them to develop the relationships that they have found there.
The desirable effect of the welfare facility is to help the users to make close relationships and have a life worth living.

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