Effectiveness of a healthcare retreat for male employees with cardiovascular risk factors

Abstract Lifestyle modification is the primary treatment strategy for obesity, hypertension, dyslipidemia, and hyperglycemia. Recently, the Japanese government designed a healthcare retreat program for persons with cardiovascular risk factors. However, the structure and effectiveness of this program has not been fully discussed. Employees of a company group with obesity and one or more other cardiovascular risk factors were enrolled in the study. The participants in the three-day retreat program were compared with those receiving a brochure-based advice for their subsequent changes in the annual health check-up data using the propensity score matching method. Among the 415 eligible employees, 220 underwent the intensive program and 195 received a brochure-based advice. In the propensity score-matched subjects, reduction in body weight (2.7 kg vs. 0.99 kg, p  This healthcare retreat with counseling and training program would improve body weight and waist circumference for one to two subsequent years.