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Living Lab for Citizens’ Wellness: A Case of Maintaining and Improving a Healthy Diet under the COVID-19 Pandemic

Author

Listed:
  • Natsuko Tabata

    (Institute for Future Initiatives, The University of Tokyo, Tokyo 113-0033, Japan
    The authors contributed equally to this work.)

  • Mai Tsukada

    (Higashiyamato City, Tokyo 207-8585, Japan
    The authors contributed equally to this work.)

  • Kozue Kubo

    (Higashiyamato City, Tokyo 207-8585, Japan
    Institute of Gerontology, The University of Tokyo, Tokyo 113-0033, Japan)

  • Yuri Inoue

    (Higashiyamato City, Tokyo 207-8585, Japan
    Institute of Gerontology, The University of Tokyo, Tokyo 113-0033, Japan)

  • Reiko Miroku

    (Higashiyamato City, Tokyo 207-8585, Japan)

  • Fumihiko Odashima

    (Institute for Future Initiatives, The University of Tokyo, Tokyo 113-0033, Japan)

  • Koichiro Shiratori

    (Institute for Future Initiatives, The University of Tokyo, Tokyo 113-0033, Japan)

  • Takashi Sekiya

    (Institute for Future Initiatives, The University of Tokyo, Tokyo 113-0033, Japan)

  • Shintaro Sengoku

    (Institute for Future Initiatives, The University of Tokyo, Tokyo 113-0033, Japan
    School of Environment and Society, Tokyo Institute of Technology, Tokyo 108-0023, Japan)

  • Hideaki Shiroyama

    (Institute for Future Initiatives, The University of Tokyo, Tokyo 113-0033, Japan
    Graduate School of Public Policy, The University of Tokyo, Tokyo 113-0033, Japan)

  • Hiromichi Kimura

    (Institute for Future Initiatives, The University of Tokyo, Tokyo 113-0033, Japan)

Abstract

The establishment and implementation of a healthy lifestyle is fundamental to public health and is an important issue for working-aged people, as it affects not only them but also the future generations. However, due to the COVID-19 pandemic and associated behavioural restrictions, lifestyles have altered, and, in certain environments, significantly worsened. In the present study, we conducted a project to improve the intestinal environment by focussing on the dietary habits of participants, utilising the living laboratory as a social technology to explore how to adapt to this drastic environmental change. We held eight workshops for voluntary participants and implemented a self-monitoring process of recording dietary behaviours (n = 78) and testing the intestinal environment (n = 14). Through this initiative, we developed a personalised wellness enhancement programme based on collaboration with multiple stakeholders and a framework for using personal data for research and practical purposes. These results provide an approach for promoting voluntary participation and behavioural changes among people, especially under the COVID-19 pandemic, as well as a practical basis for the government, academia, and industry to intervene effectively in raising people’s awareness of health and wellness.

Suggested Citation

  • Natsuko Tabata & Mai Tsukada & Kozue Kubo & Yuri Inoue & Reiko Miroku & Fumihiko Odashima & Koichiro Shiratori & Takashi Sekiya & Shintaro Sengoku & Hideaki Shiroyama & Hiromichi Kimura, 2022. "Living Lab for Citizens’ Wellness: A Case of Maintaining and Improving a Healthy Diet under the COVID-19 Pandemic," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 19(3), pages 1-17, January.
    • Handle: RePEc:gam:jijerp:v:19:y:2022:i:3:p:1254-:d:731422
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    1. Makoto Niwa & Yeongjoo Lim & Shintaro Sengoku & Kota Kodama, 2022. "A Layered Adopter-Structure Model for the Download of COVID-19 Contact Tracing Apps: A System Dynamics Study for mHealth Penetration," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 19(7), pages 1-15, April.

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