The purpose of this study was to examine the effects of walking 10,000 steps/day on the body composition, blood pressure, blood biochemical parameters and physical fitness. Sixty-one women, aged 56.0±5.3 yrs (mean±SD), participated in a hyperlipemia prevention program. The length of the program was 90-min and it was performed one time per week for 3 months. The program consisted of stretching and aerobic exercise (cycle exercise, walking or aerobic rhythmic gymnastics). The participants were asked to walk 10,000 steps/day or more during the program. The number of steps and physical activity (PA) were monitored using a single-axis accelerometer during the program. PA was categorized into three activity levels, namely light (L), moderate (M) and vigorous (V) PA. After 3 months in the program, the participants were divided into two groups according to the average number of steps taken daily during the program : one group (GA) walked more than 10,000 steps/day, while the other (GB) walked below 10,000 steps/day. The time spent in LPA, MPA and VPA in GA were significantly longer than in GB (LPA : 79.4±19.2 min VS 58.2±10.0 min, MPA : 38.5±9.6 min VS 21.6±6.1 min, VPA : 6.3±4.9 min VS 2.6±2.0 min, p<0.001). Decreases in the percent body fat (p<0.001), body fat mass (p<0.001), fasting glucose (p<0.001), hemoglobin A1c (p=0.026), and triglyceride (p=0.036) and an improved performance when balancing on one leg while standing with eyes closed (p=0.027) were found respectively after the program for GA. These findings indicated that GA affected the percent body fat (p=0.036), body fat mass (p=0.040) and fasting glucose (p=0.009). According to a stepwise multiple regression analysis, the time spent in MPA showed a significantly negative correlation with the change in the body fat mass (p=0.025), and the change in the body fat mass showed a significantly positive correlation with the change in the fasting glucose (p<0.001), hemoglobin A1c (p=0.002) and triglyceride (p<0.001). We thus concluded that walking 10,000 steps/day resulted in an increased amount of time spent in MPA, and thus leading to decrease in the amount of body fat. This decrease in body fat is also considered to contribute to improvement in the coronary risk factor profiles.

Purpose: The purpose of this study was to determine the relationship between 20m shuttle run (20mSRT) performance and a substantial increase in waist circumference (WC) with aging in Japanese middle-aged adults.Methods: One hundred and fifty-six Japanese middle-aged adults (40-64 yrs; 40 males, 116 females) participated in this study. Baseline data on 20mSRT, height, weight, WC, alcohol habit, smoking habit and the use of medication were collected from 2003 to 2004. Follow-up data on height, weight and WC were collected in 2008. The 20mSRT results were divided into gender-specific quartiles. A logistic regression analysis was used to predict a substantial increase in the WC (5 cm or more) during the follow-up.Results: During the follow-up, 44 people had a substantial increase in the WC. Independently from sex, age, height (baseline), weight (baseline), WC (baseline), alcohol habit, smoking habit and the use of medication, the highest quartile of 20mSRT was significantly associated with significantly lower odds ratio of a substantial increase in WC (OR: 0.07, 95%CI: 0.01-0.36) in comparison to the lowest quartile of 20mSRT. Furthermore, after additional adjustment for change in weight during follow-up, the highest quartile remained significantly predictive of a substantial increase in the WC, with odds ratio of 0.07 (95%CI: 0.01-0.39).Conclusions: These results indicate that the 20mSRT performance is a significant predictor of a substantial increase in the WC with aging in Japanese middle-aged adults.

Background/Aims: Although certain allergic diseases have been reported to be associated with the prevalence of functional dyspepsia (FD) and irritable bowel syndrome (IBS), it is unclear whether the presence of multiple allergic diseases further increases the prevalence of FD and IBS.The aim of this study is to determine this issue in young people. Methods: A cohort of 8923 Japanese university students was enrolled and diagnoses of FD and IBS were confirmed using Rome III criteria.Allergic disorders diagnosed at medical institutions were obtained by means of a self-administered questionnaire. Results: The prevalence of FD, IBS, and their overlap was found to be 1.9%, 6.5%, and 1.1%, respectively. Pollen allergy was independently positively correlated with FD, IBS, and overlap of FD and IBS. Allergic rhinitis was positively linked to IBS. Drug allergy was positively associated with FD. The presence of multiple allergic diseases was positively correlated with FD and IBS (FD: adjusted OR for 2 allergic diseases: 1.95 [95% CI, 1.24-2.98], P for trend = 0.003; and IBS: adjusted OR for 1 allergic disease: 1.40 [95% CI, 1.15-1.69], 2 allergic diseases 1.47 [95% CI, 1.12-1.91], and 3 or more allergic diseases: 2.22 [95% CI, 1.45-3.28], P for trend = 0.001). Additionally, the concomitant existence of multiple allergic diseases was also demonstrated to have a trend that correlated with the overlap of FD and IBS (P for trend = 0.018). Conclusion Allergic disease multimorbidity is positively correlated with the prevalence of FD and IBS in a young population.

Background/Aims: Functional dyspepsia (FD) may be a common digestive disease worldwide and reduces the quality of life of patients. However, only a few studies have investigated the association between eating behavior and FD. The purpose of this cross-sectional study is to examine the association between eating behavior and prevalence of FD in a young Japanese cohort. Methods: In this study, we enrolled 8923 Japanese university students. FD is diagnosed based on the Rome III criteria. Eating habits and frequency of meals were investigated using a self-administered questionnaire. Results: The FD subjects had a younger mean age, a lower body mass index, and a lower proportion of men compared to the non-FD subjects.An independent positive association between skipping breakfast and/or lunch and FD was found (adjusted ORs were 1.60 [95% CI, 1.10-2.32] for breakfast and 2.52 [95% CI, 1.04-5.18] for lunch). Skipping dinner, extra meals (snacks) or midnight snacks was not associated with FD. The prevalence of FD in subjects eating 1, 2, and 3 meals per day was 4.8%, 2.2%, and 1.7%, respectively. The frequency of meals was independently inversely associated with prevalence of FD (adjusted ORs were 1 per day: 2.72 [95% CI, 1.19-5.42], and 2 per day: 1.69 [95% CI, 1.16-2.43], P for trend = 0.001). Conclusions In the young Japanese people, the frequency of meals may be independently inversely associated with prevalence of FD. In particular, skipping breakfast and/or lunch was associated with the prevalence of FD.

Background/Aims: Evidence regarding the association between body mass index (BMI) and functional dyspepsia (FD) in the Asian population is limited.Further, no study has evaluated this issue in young people in Asian and Western populations. Thus, we aim to investigate this issueamong young Japanese people. Methods: The study subjects comprised of 8923 Japanese university students. BMI was divided into 4 categories (quartiles) on the basis of thestudy subjects’ distribution (lowest, low, moderate, and high [reference]). The definition of lean, normal, overweight, and obesewas BMI < 18.5 kg/m2 , 18.5 ≤ BMI < 25 kg/m2 (reference), 25 kg/m2 ≤ BMI < 30 kg/m2 , and 30 kg/m2 ≤ BMI, respectively. The definition of FD was based on the Rome III criteria. Results: The prevalence of FD was 1.9% in this cohort. The lowest BMI was independently associated with FD after adjustment (adjusted odds ratio [OR], 2.88; 95% confidence interval [CI], 1.46-3.67); P for trend = 0.001). The lowest BMI was independently associated with FD in women but not in men (OR, 2.94; 95% CI, 1.59-5.77; P for trend = 0.001). Leanness was independently associated with FD in total and in women but not in men (total: adjusted OR, 2.01; 95% CI, 1.40-2.86) and women (OR, 2.19; 95% CI, 1.35-3.45). However,interaction analysis showed no significant difference for sex. Conclusions Among young Japanese people, BMI may be independently inversely associated with FD. Leanness may be an independent associated factor for FD in the young Japanese women.

The purpose of the present study was to examine the relationship between exercise group characteristics and participation intention in elderly individuals via conjoint analysis. A total of 977 individuals (591 males and 386 females) aged ≥60 years were enrolled in the study. The included exercise groups comprised five factors: 1) instructor (professionals, university students, or volunteers); 2) place (1, 5, or 10 km); 3) expected effect (maintaining or increasing physical fitness, preventing dementia, or relieving stress); 4) characteristics (interaction, gaming, or self-pace); and 5) fee (free, 500 yen, or 1,000 yen). A total of 18 exercise groups were created by the orthogonal table. The choice-based conjoint comprised nine choice tasks. Among these, participants were required to choose between two exercise groups or no-choice option. The utility was higher for each factor as follows: 1) professional instructor, 2) closer place, 3) expected maintenance or increased physical fitness, 4) self-pace, and 5) free. The degree of each factor’s utility differed according to sex or exercise habits. Specifically, females had higher utility for university students than males, and those who had regular exercise habits had higher utility for professional instructors than those who did not. The results of the present study may help develop strategies to stimulate elder individuals in exercise-group participation.