I just saw this article in the New York Times about the new Japan fat law - it’s a very aggressive campaign to get its citizens to slim down, including measuring the waists of nearly half its population. This NYT picture is of a poster at a public health clinic that says, “Goodbye, metabo” – a word associated with being overweight.
There’s now a national law in Japan that requires companies and local governments to measure the waistlines of those between the ages of 40 and 74 as part of their annual checkups. That’s more than 56 million people – about 44 percent of the population.
The government’s waistline limits are 33.5 inches for men and 35.4 inches for women. They’re the same guidelines the International Diabetes Federation uses to identify health risks in Japan.
So what happens to those whose waistlines exceed the measurements? If they also have a weight-related illness and don’t lose weight after three months, they’ll get some special education on dieting. Companies and local governments that don’t reach specific targets will be fined.
Japan is doing this to try to reach its goals of cutting the overweight population by 10 percent over the next four years and 25 percent over the next seven years. It says the campaign will keep diseases like diabetes and strokes under control, as well as reduce the country’s skyrocketing health care costs. Critics say the guidelines are too strict and will lead to overmedication and ultimately raise health care costs.
Now, if a country like Japan that isn’t known for its overweight people is doing this, do you think the U.S. should do something similar to fight the obesity epidemic we have here? Or is it going too far? It’ll definitely be interesting to see if the campaign helps Japan reach its weight-loss goals.
Hmmm…fines? Does that mean that there will be too much pressure on just losing weight & not being healthy?
From NCLM
This is fascinating. I like the idea, but like the first commentor said, it could cause other problems. BUT – it is a great way to show that as a nation, they are focused on health.
It would be cool if the US decided to pay as much attention to weight. However, culturally speaking, I think Americans are a bit too independent to go for such a thing. Remember, Japan has a much more group-centric attitude and a history that includes feudalism and socialism and thereby more receptive to such invasive policies.
Good points, by all. I can’t imagine something like that here. But we definitely need to figure out a way to reverse the obesity epidemic somehow.
I think it is a rediculous law. There are some people in the morld who cannot help their weight no matter what they do. Sumo wrestling is part of the japanese culture, so i think they missed that giant point! The law states that it is for 40 to 74 year olds, i know 60 year olds who cant move so how can they lose weaght.