Health-related behavior of people living in a community which experienced a rapid population decrease

The authors firstly intended to observe the longitudinal effect of rapid decrease and aging of population, which was triggered by the closing of a coal mine in a small island, Takashima (Nagasaki Prefecture, Japan), on the health and behavior of local people. Our initial research objective was, however, re-directed toward practical ways to develop health promotion, because of the increasing expectation of people toward better health.