Meiji Yasuda Life Foundation of Health and Welfare

Physical Fitness Research Institute

The rapid increase in the proportion of older population in Japan has been producing serious health and welfare problems. The mission of our research institute is to contribute to creating a society, in which people can live more vital and healthy. For the achievement of our mission, we have been engaging in research to solve these problems. In particular, our recent research projects have focused on developing the methods of population approach for health promotion in a community or workplace. To make this possible in society, we have challenged and collaborated with local government, academia, private enterprises, and various stakeholders in the community.

The results from those studies are presented in our own publication “Bulletin of the Physical Fitness Research Institute”, domestic and international academic conferences and journals.

Hiroshi Chikaraishi Director

Our research projects

Our research institute has three main focuses of research: (1) a workplace research project which epidemiologically examines the effects of physical activity and sedentary behavior on health, (2) a fundamental research project which explores the mechanisms of how physical activity affects brain health and other mental health, and (3) a community-based research project that develops the strategies to promote health in society.

Workplace Research Project

  1. The associations between physical activity and mental health and lifestyle diseases (MYLS study)
  2. Strategies to reduce sedentary behavior in the workplace
  3. The relationship between the workplace environment and employees’ health
  4. Physical activity promotion strategies, applied by a concept in behavioral economics, for those who have no interest in physical activity

Community-based Research Project

  1. Implementation of social prescribing services
  2. Creation of an online-based community for older adults

Fundamental Research Project

  1. The association between various environmental conditions and the development of brain functions
  2. The relationship between physical inactivity and mental health
  3. Exercise prescriptions that improve the brain functions
  4. The mechanisms behind the effects of physical activity on brain structures and functions

Our research achievements

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