A study by Hiroyuki Hikichi and his colleagues at Kitasato University School of Medicine found that mass relocation to prefabricated temporary housing increases the risk of obesity and depression.Since these problems may not be found in group relocation to disaster public housing, the research group thinks that there are many community meetings with food and drink in prefabricated temporary housing, and that the effect may have increased the BMI indicating the degree of obesity. There is.
In Iwanuma City, Miyagi Prefecture, 180 people were killed and 5,542 houses were damaged by the Great East Japan Earthquake, and many of the residents were forced to live in temporary housing. Five years later, in April 5, temporary housing was closed, and residents either bought new housing or relocated to the disaster public housing complex on a pre-earthquake community basis.
This time, we analyzed the data of the living survey conducted by the Japan Gerontological Evaluation Research Project in 2010, the year before the Great East Japan Earthquake, and the follow-up survey conducted by the research group two and a half years and five and a half years after the Great East Japan Earthquake. We explored how repeated group and individual transfers affected the mind and body of the elderly.The subjects of the survey were 2 elderly people aged 5 and over living in Iwanuma City, Miyagi Prefecture.
According to the survey, 51 people who moved to prefabricated temporary housing had a BMI of 0.79 points and a depression score of 1.5 points.On the other hand, 63 people who relocated to disaster public housing did not have this tendency.The 119 individuals who relocated individually showed deterioration in higher living function and cognitive function.
Although mass relocation has traditionally been thought to help maintain health by strengthening social ties, the research group may have linked community meetings with food and drink, which are common in prefabricated temporary housing, to increased BMI. Is pointed out.In addition, since more than half of the elderly who answered that they had relocated individually in 2013 moved into newly purchased housing, it is possible that major changes in economic conditions and living environment also affected mental health. be.
The research group suggests that the negative aspects of mass relocation should also be considered, and encourages individual relocators to take measures to prevent loneliness and group relocators to participate in gymnastics classes and civic farms. It points out the effectiveness of providing opportunities for physical activity.
