%0 Journal Article
%T Lifestyle changes of Japanese people on overseas assignment in Michigan, USA
%A Kazuya Kitamura
%A Michael D Fetters
%A Kiyoshi Sano
%A Juichi Sato
%A Nobutaro Ban
%J Asia Pacific Family Medicine
%D 2009
%I BioMed Central
%R 10.1186/1447-056x-8-7
%X In this cross sectional survey, we distributed a 38 item self-administered questionnaire addressing health habits, mental health function, lifestyle changes and dietary habits to adult Japanese patients presenting for general physicals at a family medicine clinic serving Japanese patients. We conducted simple statistics and regression analysis between length of stay and other health outcomes to determine whether length of residence in the US was predictive of negative lifestyle changes.Most participants reported increased caloric intake, weight gain, and less exercise. They also reported increased time with family. More women than men reported physical symptoms and anxiety related to stress. Smoking and alcohol intake were essentially unchanged. No associations were identified between length of residence in the US and health lifestyle habits or other health outcomes.Negative lifestyle changes occur in diet and exercise for overseas Japanese people, but a positive change in increased family time was found. Women appear to be at a greater risk for somatic disorders than men. As duration of stay does not appear predictive of adverse changes, clinicians should advise patients going abroad of these risks regardless of the term of the work assignment.An individual's health behaviours including eating habits, exercise, rest, smoking, and alcohol consumption affect the development of many diseases [1-6]. Due to social, cultural and environmental differences, Asians who live overseas for temporary work assignments will likely experience sudden lifestyle changes. Based on clinical observations, these sudden lifestyle changes are suspected to be related to adverse health outcomes. Due to the globalization of business, an increasing number of Japanese people are transferred to other countries where there may be enormous environmental pressures to change their health behaviours and adjust to a different culture[7] It has been estimated that there are about 300,000 Japanese peopl
%U http://www.apfmj.com/content/8/1/7