After reviewing studies on weight cycling, we concluded that methodology left much to be desired and that the following matlers should be taken into reconsideration :1. There is as yet no established definition of the term “weight cycling”. Consequently, different definitions of weight cycling are used in different studies.2. The definition of weight cycling lacks any standard. Consequently, different criteria of weight change are used in different studies.3. Weight cycling is assessed by cycles of loss and regain of body weight. For the purpose of elucidating the correlation between weight cycling and health body weight is preferable to BMI as a weight change variable.4. Providing a relevant measure for weight cycling encompasses many components. The body weight collected by direct measurement is most reliable. However, an interval of measurement of body weight differs in different studies.5. In light of the standards of population-based epidemiological research, the studies are generally of small-to-modest size.6. Few studies have been able to differentiate between intentional and unintentional weight changes.
Weight ; Body Weight ; Measurement ; Population ; methodology <2>

We made researches into various factors underling the loneliness of the elderly, based on interviews conducted in july 1995 with old people living alone in Hiroshima City. Loneliness was assessed by LSO, and as related factors, such items as period of living alone, self-assessment on solitude, lifestyle, self-rated health status, competence for daily work, social support network, morale, self-esteem, depression, and subjective symptoms of stress were examined.
We made multiregression analysis using loneliness as a dependent variable and other factors as independent varibles. The results were as followed.
The loneliness of old people living alone was significantly correlated with self-esteem and instrumental support.

Having established a facility for elderly people in a familiar neighborhood shopping center where they can mingle with many people, we are offering information and advice to them about health. A system has been created to support independent living of elderly people and encourage them to outdoor activities instead of stay-at-home. A shop was rented in F shopping center, which has many elderly shoppers and a long history. We opened the “SUKOYAKA salon” there in September 2005. In thisPaper, we examined the health promotion functions and roles of the system and described the progress of this project in the first seven months from the opening of the facility to March 2006, and the people who had visited the salon.
Elderly ; livin ; g <3> ; Examination ; month

Objective: The aim of this study was to assess the "Health Care Town in Kyoto" project designed to promote health and safety for health conscious people in a small community. We conducted a survey involving the users of the salon and local residents to examine the effects of the activities in the salon.Methods: We recorded the activities of salon and conducted semi-structured interviews with ten local residents to ask their opinions about the salon. The data from the interviews were analyzed using the Grounded Theory Approach. We distributed a questionnaire and collected 215 valid responses (valid response rate: 67.8%).Results: 1) Purpose of using the salon was categorized into health consultation, conversation with others, rest and other purpose. 2) The significance of the salon for users was categorized into usability, acquisition of useful information, changes in daily habits and their maintenance, diversion, interaction with other people and acceptance by the shopping center. 3) The results of the questionnaire survey showed marked relations between Well-Being Index (WHO-5), age, employment and family budget, self-rated health and ability to perform daily activities (TMIG), whereas use of the salon was not associated with Well-Being Index (WHO-5). On the other hand, there were marked relations between loneliness (LSO), educational background and use of the salon, demonstrating that the facility helped its users reduce loneliness (LSO).Conclusion: In this town, the salon has served as a place providing effective preventive support for the health of individual users.

【Objectives】A study was carried out to examine the relationships between community consciousness and the health of the middle-aged in a rural area, and to explore how to support their effort to promote health through behavioral modification.【Methods】A questionnaire survey was conducted on 2,336 people, aged 30-64, in town A. We received effective responses from 763 people (32.7% valid response rate). The investigative tool Self-administered questionnaires were sent out by asking them about their identity, community consciousness (attitude toward community, relationships with neighbors, social participation), physical health (health conditions, health behaviors, attitude toward health actions), and mental health (life satisfaction, depression). An analysis was made to find the relationship between the subjects’ attitude toward community and physical or mental health. In addition, we performed a multivariate analysis with physical health and mental health as the objective variables and the items, in which a significant difference was mainly observed in a univariate analysis, as the explanatory variables.【Results】Respondents with a higher score on the attitude toward community scale also had higher scores for health condition, health behaviors, and attitude toward health actions. Those people with higher scores on the attitude toward community scale had higher life satisfaction scores and lower depression scores.【Conclusion】These results revealed a close association between community consciousness and the health of the middle-aged in the rural area. It is necessary to interpret the assessment in consideration of the fact that in rural areas community consciousness is generally high and contributes to healthy support of the middle-aged.

We studied the relationship between the personal background of participants (365 individuals) in health promotion activities, in a rural community and the factors which affect effectiveness of their health promotion activities. Information gathered included education, whether or not employed, economic status, level of interest in participating in volunteer/welfare work, participation in other group activities, self-ratedhealth status, degree of satisfaction from the activities, self-esteem, self-efficacy, and self-actualization value.
The results were as follows:
1. The age and level of interest in volunteer/welfare work were related to an increased
degree of satisfaction from helth promotion the activities.
2. The degree of satisfaction from the activities and affluent circumstances are related to an increased degree of self-esteem.
3. The level of interest in volunteer/welfare work and participation in other group activities were related to the degree of self-efficacy.
4. The greater the age the less the degree of self-actualization value. On the other hand, the greater satisfaction from the activities, higher education and higher living standards were related to an increased degree of self-actualization value.

　　This study evaluates the quality of life (QOL) for elderly community residents on both health-related and subjective QOLs, while comparing QOL-related factors between so-called “younger old” (residents in the age bracket of 65-74) and “older old” (those in that of 75 and over) in regard to QOL-related factors. Questionnaires were distributed to 929 residents in both age groups who affiliated themselves with a senior citizens’ club in City “K” in 2009. Data on 596 persons were analyzed in this study. Results pertinent to basic attributes, health status, lifestyle habits, social exchange, and QOL were analyzed in a multivariate method. Among residents in the age bracket of 65-74, the subjective sense of well-being, the frequency of going out, gender, the frequency of conversations with neighbors, financial security, and bedtime hours were looked upon as factors contributory to improvements in QOL, whereas low back pain, the frequency of mutual support among neighbors, high GDS scores, personal activities, and numbness were taken in as factors deteriorative to QOL. Among the over-75s, the subjective sense of well-being, cardiac disorders, and financial security were regarded as factors contributory to improvements in QOL, whereas low back pains and cardiac disorders were looked upon as factors deteriorative to QOL. To improve the elderly’s QOL, it is considered essential to step up their efforts to manage and relieve depression and low back pains.

　　This study was carried out to clarify the effects of the sense of community and living environment on elderly citizens’ mental health. We conducted a self-administered questionnaire survey targeting 820 men and women aged 65 and over, who were a member of “A” seniors’ club or participant of a daily service event organized by “A” Council of Social Welfare. Valid responses came from 577 people, who were enrolled in this study. Univariate and multivariate analyses revealed that elderly citizens’ life satisfaction was positively correlated with “subjective sense of well-being”, “hypertension”, “junior high school district”, “love for the region”, “social supports&rdqul;, and “no medical problems”, and negatively correlated with “neuroticism” and &ldqip:stress”. In addition, risk factors for depression were “single life”, “neuroticism”, and “stress”, whereas improvement factors were “subjective sense of well-being”, “hobby”, “fine views”, and “sociability”. Our findings showed that elderly adults’ mental health status was associated with various factors such as their “love for the region” “living environment with fine views”, “subjective sense of well-being”, and “personality”. These results suggested that community networks could favorably affect elderly people’s mental health.

　　In a cohort study of 7,820 elderly residents, we explored whether the priority items of the basic checklist predict new issuance of a certificate of needed long-term care. We analyzed data using Cox’s proportional hazard regression, with new issuance of a certificate of needed longterm care as the dependent variable, need for secondary prevention services (determined by the basic checklist results) and required level of specific health guidance as independent variables, and sex, age, place of residence, and use of long-term care prevention services as moderator variables.　　The results were as follows. The priority items of the basic checklist to assess need for secondary prevention services were useful for screening in both the younger and older elderly populations. Also, more certificates of needed long-term care were issued to those individuals who received secondary prevention services. Furthermore, partial functional impairment was also significantly associated with issuing a new certificate.

　　This study was conducted to clarify whether the health locus of control (HLC) is associated with body weight change after adjusting effects of different factors in a general adult population.　　In male subjects with a normal weight, external locus of control was associated with weight gain, whereas internal locus of control was not significantly correlated with weight loss, after adjusting the effects of factors related to body weight change. Although the external locus of control was associated with weight gain, HLC had a limited effect on body weight change in adults.　　Besides HLC, the factors significantly correlated with body weight change. Skipping breakfast, napping, and a weight cycling are related to weight gain, whereas obesity and stress were connected with weight loss. A look at gender differences showed that weight gain was associated with marriage, skipping breakfast, napping, and a variable body weight, whereas weight loss was associated with obesity and the declaration of weight reduction in male subjects. In female subjects, weight gain was associated with eating speed and smoking.