Increasing obesity among male workers in Japan: 1992-1997

To examine changes in the Body Mass Index (BMI) and in the prevalence of obesity among male Japanese workers after five years.

Follow-up study, based on data from annual health checkups performed at workplaces.

We had access to the data for a total of 63,951 male workers aged 20 through 54 years in 1992 who were examined in both 1992 and 1997. In quinquennial cohorts, we compared the findings for mean BMI and the prevalence of obesity in 1992 with the findings in 1997.

Between 1992 and 1997, in all cohorts the mean BMI increased significantly. For each adjacent cohort pair the mean BMI value in 1997 was significantly higher than in 1992. In 1992, 21.3% of all subjects were obese, increasing by 3.4% after five years to 24.7% in 1997. In the younger 1968-1972 and 1963-1967 cohorts the prevalence of obesity increased by 6.3% during five years. The significant increase in the obesity prevalence was observed from 1992 to 1997 for each age-adjusted cohort.

These results suggest a substantial increase in obesity among male Japanese workers. The notable increase in the prevalence of obesity among young male adults and the general trend toward widespread obesity during five years signal an increasing risk of lifestyle-related diseases.