YURU EXERCISE

First Ever in Japan! In the Resident-Driven Complete Health Project based on Yuru Exercise Proves Improved Physical and Mental Health

In Mie Prefecture’s Kinan area, known for having the Japan’s highest aging rate, as a “microcosm of Japan 30 years later”

Won the 2004 Mainichi Incentive Award of the Local Governments, sponsored by Mainichi Newspapers

Effects on Physical and Mental Health Evaluated

• (1) Reduced body weight, and lowered BMI (indicator or obesity degree)
• (2) Reduced neutral fat
• (3) Improved physical health levels (self-assessed total health levels)
• (4) Improved various indexes which indicate mental health levels such as GHQ-12

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• The chart above can be enlarged by clicking on it.

In Mie Prefecture, a healthy long life project was implemented from 2003 to 2007 in five municipalities in the Kinan area, namely, Kumano City, Mihama Town, Kiwa Town, Kiho Town and Udono Village (as of 2003) which focused utilizing Yuru Exercise as the basis with diet plans and relaxation incorporated.

Under the instruction of Professor Hiroyuki Shimizu, Medical School Dean of Gifu University, and an authority on public health studies, a statistical survey was conducted for two months in June and July 2003. As shown below, the result statistically proved that the program had offered various profound physical benefits to its participants such as lowered BMI, reduced neutral fat, and improved physical health levels, as well as remarkable effects on mental health.

This is said to be the first case in Japan that showed such scientifically remarkable effects of unforced, voluntary physical exercises practiced by local residents.

The prefecture’s healthy long life project ended in 2007, but its activities are currently being led by its promotors who are mainly the 70 trained volunteer Yuru Exercise leaders, expanding the activity area from the Kinan area to Owase City and Kihoku Town, as well as outer areas beyond the prefectural border to Wakayama Prefecture’s Shingu City, Tanabe City, and Nachikatsuura Town.

Details of Project Implementation

• Subjects:
• 54 local residents both male and female who “consider themselves as obese” or “have been diagnosed as obese”, who have a BMI of 25 or over (with an average age of 60).
• BMI (Body Mass Index) = weight (kg) / {height (m) * height (m)}
• BMI is an index commonly used worldwide for evaluating body mass, with 22 as the standard.

Method:Divide the subjects into two groups at random

• Group A … Voluntarily practiced Yuru Exercise
• Group B ... Completely no Yuru Exercise

• Items Examined:
• physiological and biochemical indexes including body weight and blood components
• Evaluated with participants’ self-check sheet on total health, and GHQ-12 (General Health Questionnaire)

Note: The location of the subject groups and evaluated indexes strictly followed the international standard required for dissertations.