[Worksite health promotion and occupational physicians: interventional effects of exercises]

Results of annual health checkups at workplaces revealed a steady increase in the incidence of cardiovascular risk factors such as dyslipidemia and hypertension in Japan. With the aging of the workforce, the incidence is expected to increase further. These risk factors are modifiable through a lifestyle modification program including mild exercise and nutritional guidance. In 1988, the Japanese government revised the Industrial Safety and Health Law to promote health in the workplace and implemented the Total Health Promotion Plan (THP). However, only 5.0% of workplaces were implementing THP programs according to a survey conducted in 2007. Therefore, we have recommended some measures for worksite health promotion, such as collaboration between community health and occupational health for implementing health promotion activities especially in small and medium scale enterprises, environmental improvement to promote occupational health, and an approach to increase physical activity that includes walking to work and using the stairs. Worksite health promotion should be considered an important company initiative in terms of work-related outcomes such as job satisfaction, work ability, and absenteeism in addition to cardiovascular risk factors.