Status of physical activity in the Japanese population

Abstract

Physical activity surveillance at a population level is important. The National Health and Nutrition Survey of Japan has been carried out annually, and two kinds of assessments for physical activity are included in the survey: total step counts per day, measured by a pedometer, and questions on exercise habits. From peak values seen in 1998 -2000, time trends display a decline of age-adjusted mean steps per day, and the average percentage of regular exercisers has increased only in the age group of 50 years old or higher. As for standard or target values of physical activity, the Dietary Reference Intakes (DRIs) for Japanese presents standard values of physical activity levels (total energy expenditure divided by basal metabolic rate) for each gender and age group. The moderate value of physical activity level for adults is 1.75. Furthermore, the Exercise and Physical Activity Guide for Health Promotion 2006 (Exercise Guide 2006) was released based on the "Exercise and Physical Activity Reference for Health Promotion 2006" (EPAR2006). The reference values were set as 23 MET-hours/week for physical activity and 4 MET-hours/week for exercise. The former value is equivalent to 8000 to 10000 daily steps. Thus, Japan has established target values for physical activity and exercise habits, and daily steps have been investigated in the Japanese population. However, the target or standard values of physical activity are not sufficiently linked to the nationwide surveillance of actual levels of physical activity. Therefore, development of physical activity evaluation methods for Japanese is necessary.

Impact of loneliness on blood glucose: a cross-sectional survey among Japanese

“…People with high SES usually have healthy diets and enough knowledge to maintain good health. In this study, the physical activity was observed at a mean of 12.3 METs-h/day, equal to 86.1 METs-h/week, almost 3.7 times higher than the Japanese reference value of 23 METs-h/week 27 . In addition, this study population has a mean BMI of 23 ± 3.4 kg/m 2 , lower than that of other studies (27.5 ± 4.6 kg/m 2 ) in the UK and (26.8 ± 4.9) in Ireland 5,28 .…”

Locomotive and non-locomotive activities evaluated with a triaxial accelerometer in adults and elderly individuals

“…In the Japan Health and Nutrition Survey, 2010, step counts for women are 7,458 ± 3,829 steps/day for those 15-19 years, 7,104 ± 4,075 steps/day for those 20-29 years, 6,669 ± 3,361 steps/day for those 30-39 years, 6,986 ± 3,414 steps/day for those 40-49 years, 7,184 ± 3,624 steps/day for those 50-59 years, 6,234 ± 3,612 steps/day for those 60-69 years, and 3,872 ± 3,183 steps/day for those over 70 years. For men, they were 7,872 ± 4,545 steps/day for those 15-19 years, 8,322 ± 4,833 steps/day for those 20-29 years, 8,278 ± 4,901 steps/day for those 30-39 years, 7,873 ± 4,576 steps/day for those 40-49 years, 7,684 ± 4,368 steps/day for those 50-59 years, 7,092 ± 4,379 steps/day for those 60-69 years, and 4,890 ± 3,362 steps/day for those over 70 years [19]. In the present study, those in women and men over 70 years and men 50-69 years were slightly [10][11][12][13].…”

Effect of a 1-year intervention comprising brief counselling sessions and low-dose physical activity recommendations in Japanese adults, and retention of the effect at 2 years: a randomized trial

“…The inclusion criteria used in the present study for the assignment of participants to the inactive pool were particularly restrictive (i.e., MVPA < 3.3 MET-h/d or step-count < 10,000 steps/d). Consequently, participants randomized to the intervention and control groups presented a relatively high level of activity (8244 ± 2002 steps/d vs. 6636 ± 4169 steps/d) on average in the Japanese population [ 30 ]. However, the PA intervention used in the present study showed promising outcomes, even in the least active participants.…”