title: Sapporo Fitness Club Trial (SFCT)--design, recruitment and implementation of a randomized controlled trial to test the efficacy of exercise at a fitness club for the reduction of cardiovascular risk factor--.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  The annual health check followed by lifestyle recommendations has long been the standard national strategy to improve cardiovascular disease (CVD) risk factors in Japan. Exercise at fitness clubs, now widely accessible in major cities, has a novel appeal as a strategy with the additive effect of CVD risk reduction. The Sapporo Fitness Club Trial (SFCT) is a randomized controlled trial to compare the efficacy of the national standard alone (control) with the standard plus exercise at a fitness club (intervention) for the reduction of CVD risk factors.
  
  
  METHODS
  The SFCT has recruited and randomized 561 relatively inactive overweight men and women, aged 40-85 years, with elevated levels of 2 or more of the following: systolic blood pressure, fasting blood glucose, and low-density lipoprotein cholesterol. The intervention group was required to exercise at a fitness club 2-4 times per week. At the end of 6 months, risk factors, aerobic capacity, health-related quality of life measures, and adverse effects are to be compared.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  The SFCT is expected to have a major impact in Japan on public health recommendations on exercise for the reduction of lifestyle-related disease.
authors.affiliation: Sapporo Health Promotion Center, Chuoku, Sapporo, Japan.
authors.forename: Kumiko
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Igarashi
authors.forename: Kumiko
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Fujita
authors.forename: Tomomi
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Yamase
authors.forename: Noriteru
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: Morita
authors.forename: Koichi
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Okita
authors.forename: Keiji
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Satake
authors.forename: Naomi
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: Kanazawa
authors.forename: Hirotaka
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Nishijima
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D035843:Biomedical Research / Q000379:methods; D002318:Cardiovascular Diseases / Q000209:etiology / Q000517:prevention & control*; D008078:Cholesterol, LDL / Q000097:blood; D015444:Exercise; D005260:Female; D020446:Fitness Centers; D006801:Humans; D006937:Hypercholesterolemia / Q000150:complications; D006940:Hyperemia / Q000150:complications; D006973:Hypertension / Q000150:complications; D007564:Japan; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D009765:Obesity / Q000150:complications*; D018579:Patient Selection; D016032:Randomized Controlled Trials as Topic / Q000379:methods*; D012107:Research Design; D040242:Risk Reduction Behavior
chemical_list: D008078:Cholesterol, LDL