Revised Basic Policy for Health Promotion raises diet and step targets

The Ministry of Health, Labour and Welfare has revised the basic policy for the comprehensive promotion of national health based on the Health Promotion Act (the so-called “Health Japan 21”), raising the target value for those who eat a balanced diet from 50% to 70%, and the target for daily step counts from 7,100 steps to 8,000 steps. The revision was published as Ministry of Health, Labour and Welfare Notification No. 346 in the Official Gazette (Extra Edition No. 205) dated September 15, 2026, and came into effect on the same day.

Legal Status

This revision is based on the provisions of Article 7, Paragraph 1 of the Health Promotion Act (Act No. 103 of 2002) and was published based on the provisions of Paragraph 4 of the same Article. The subject of the revision is the basic policy for the comprehensive promotion of national health established by Ministry of Health, Labour and Welfare Notification No. 207 of 2023, specifically amending a portion of Appended Table 2, “Targets for Individual Behavior and Improvement of Health Status.”

The notification was issued under the name of Minister of Health, Labour and Welfare Kenichiro Ueno, and the revised sections are underlined. The target year for all target values is set for fiscal year 2032, indicating the direction of medium- to long-term health policy.

Raising Targets for Nutrition, Dietary Habits, and Physical Activity

Within the “Improvement of Lifestyle Habits” section of Appended Table 2, in the field of nutrition and dietary habits, the target value for the increase in people eating a balanced diet was raised by 20 percentage points, from 50% to 70%. In the field of physical activity and exercise, the target for the increase in daily step counts was raised by 900 steps, from 7,100 steps to 8,000 steps.

• Increase in people eating a balanced diet: 50% → 70% (FY2032)
• Increase in daily step counts: 7,100 steps → 8,000 steps (FY2032)
• Increase in people who can chew food well: 80% → 90% (FY2032)

Targets for Rest, Sleep, and Dental/Oral Health

In the field of rest and sleep, while the target value for the decrease in employees working 60 hours or more per week remained unchanged at 5%, the target year was changed from 2025 to 2028. In the field of dental and oral health, the target value for the increase in people who can chew food well was raised by 10 percentage points, from 80% to 90%.

• Decrease in employees working 60 hours or more per week: 5% (Target year changed from 2025 → 2028)
• Increase in people who can chew food well: 80% → 90% (FY2032)

Impact on National Life

This revision raises the government’s target levels for improving public health and will serve as a policy guideline to encourage improvements in dietary habits and exercise routines. The increase in target values, within the framework of “Health Japan 21”—which aims to extend healthy life expectancy and prevent lifestyle-related diseases—requires a higher standard of health behavior from the public and is expected to influence the direction of future health measures and municipal health projects.

Source: Ministry of Health, Labour and Welfare Notification No. 346, “Partial Amendment to the Basic Policy for the Comprehensive Promotion of Public Health (MHLW Notification No. 207, 2023) based on the provisions of Article 7, Paragraph 1 of the Health Promotion Act (Act No. 103 of 2002),” published in the Official Gazette (Extra Edition No. 205) dated September 15, 2026.