Association between intensive health guidance focusing on eating quickly and metabolic syndrome in Japanese middle-aged citizens

Purpose The purpose of this intervention study was to investigate whether intensive health guidance focusing on eating quickly can prevent metabolic syndrome (MetS) more effectively than standard routine guidance in Japanese citizens living in rural areas. Methods This controlled, non-randomized, intervention study analyzed 141 participants with MetS at baseline. Participants in the intervention group received health guidance focusing on eating quickly and standard health guidance about MetS in accordance with the guidelines of the Ministry of Health, Labour and Welfare in Japan, whereas participants in the control group received only standard health guidance about MetS. The primary study outcome was the prevalence of MetS at a 1-year follow-up. Results At 1-year follow-up, the prevalence of MetS in the intervention group was significantly lower than that in the control group (p = 0.003). The decreases in body weight, body mass index, waist circumference and triglycerides from baseline to 1 year were significantly greater in the intervention group than in the control group (p < 0.05). Conclusion Intensive health guidance focusing on eating quickly is more effective for improving MetS than standard Japanese health guidance alone.