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| Japanese government tackling obesity, fines for companies.
Posted: 6/24/2008 12:00:03 PM |
AMAGASAKI, Japan — Japan, a country not known for its overweight people, has undertaken one of the most ambitious campaigns ever by a nation to slim down its citizenry.
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Under a national law that came into effect two months ago, companies and local governments must now measure the waistlines of Japanese people between the ages of 40 and 74 as part of their annual checkups. That represents more than 56 million waistlines, or about 44 percent of the entire population.
Those exceeding government limits — 33.5 inches for men and 35.4 inches for women, which are identical to thresholds established in 2005 for Japan by the International Diabetes Federation as an easy guideline for identifying health risks — and having a weight-related ailment will be given dieting guidance if after three months they do not lose weight.
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To reach its goals of shrinking the overweight population by 10 percent over the next four years and 25 percent over the next seven years, the government will impose financial penalties on companies and local governments that fail to meet specific targets. The country’s Ministry of Health argues that the campaign will keep the spread of diseases like diabetes and strokes in check.
http://www.nytimes.com/2008/06/13/world/asia/13fat.html?ref=health
Not a bad idea, especially given how obese so much of our North American population is. I really didn't realize the extent of the problem until I went to France. Compare the people there to what we have here in Canada, or the USA, and its clear that there is much room for improvement.
I wonder how long it'll take though for people to ween off this false hope on miracle drugs and machines, and realize that healthy eating and regular exercise are what's most important. | |
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| Japanese government tackling obesity, fines for companies.
Posted: 6/24/2008 2:45:42 PM | Fortunatly, I live in a society that says I have the last word over my body, not some gov't official.
Then again...this could well be a good thing for alot of people. "Lose it or pay for it!" Health service costs could go down. Perhaps thos ewho are overweight should pay a premium or a "deductable" if they have health problems directly related to their obesity.
Ah well...wonder how this affects Sumo wrestlers? | |
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| Japanese government tackling obesity, fines for companies.
Posted: 6/24/2008 4:05:59 PM | does this speak to freedom over your body or personal responsibility?
in japan the government coordinates the public health system. being overweight is a known risk that can be extrapolated to x dollars in incremental health cost to the public.
oddly enough they probably don't penalize smokers, whereas insurance companies in the US do.
i just came back from Japan and people still smoke everywhere, but they were harping on about this weight program. | |
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| Japanese government tackling obesity, fines for companies.
Posted: 6/24/2008 4:20:15 PM | I'm definitely for people taking responsibility for their own health.
Ownership of health upon the individual rather than the old reactive 'deal-with-the-illness- when-it-happens' model.
If people don't take charge of their health, offer incentives to entice them.
For example, I know of 3rd party companies in the U.S. that provide financial incentives to employees who demonstrate that they are taking charge of their health (re: maintaining a healthy body weight, smoking cessation, physical activity engagement, etc). No only do they offer lower health premiums, but they get a cash injection into a personal account that can go towards health costs not covered by insurance. Not sure if they have these programs here in Canada. This, in return, reduces the employers health costs. Plus, it alleviates some of the healthcare burden overall.
With that said, I'm a solid advocate for addressing the Determinants of Health (socioeconomic, education, language barriers, surrounding environment, is depressed, no social support, cultural beliefs, etc). Someone who is poor, or uneducated, or a new immigrant who doesn't speak the native language, or works 17 hours a day, etc. will have a much more difficult time maintaining a healthy lifestyle than one who isn't faced with these obstacles.
I strongly believe that people need to take responsibility for their health, but also believe that governmental infrastructure needs to be in place to help support this. Support groups, educational classes, free access to health checkups, patient-centered care, lay educators, etc. have been proven to work wonders. | |
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| Japanese government tackling obesity, fines for companies.
Posted: 6/24/2008 6:10:33 PM | the government will impose financial penalties on companies and local governments that fail to meet specific targets
I don't see why governments and companies should get the penalties. That only punishes taxpayers and shareholders, many of whom might be fit and lean. It should come down to individual responsibility. People should pay a fat tax based on percentage of body fat. Those who persist in an unhealthy lifestyle are free to do it, as long as they pay for the privilege. It would also be good to have fat taxes on fried foods, candy and other unhealthy consumer items, but that's another thread entirely. | |
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| Japanese government tackling obesity, fines for companies.
Posted: 6/24/2008 6:21:40 PM |
Not a bad idea, especially given how obese so much of our North American population is. I really didn't realize the extent of the problem until I went to France. Compare the people there to what we have here in Canada, or the USA, and its clear that there is much room for improvement. I do believe that the food over there is better than here. The abundance of over processed, over manipulated food products that make up the majority of North American diets is absolutley appalling. When Lucky Charms gets credit for having "whole grain" you know there's a problem... | |
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| Japanese government tackling obesity, fines for companies.
Posted: 6/24/2008 6:33:40 PM | Leave the Lucky charms alone...they come in chocolate now too! I got me a slingshot and ain't afraid to use it!
Hmm...wonder how long it is going to take the gov't to heavily tax the fast foods so abundant in North America today...like, same amount of taxes as on a pack of smokes...or a bottle of alcohol?
That would certainly put a huge boost into the rake-in for gov't coffers.
Maybe the same taxation on "grocery store junk food"...like the "lucky charms" or the whole "snack food" aisle. | |
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| Japanese government tackling obesity, fines for companies.
Posted: 6/24/2008 9:16:56 PM |
Those exceeding government limits — 33.5 inches for men and 35.4 inches for women, which are identical to thresholds established in 2005 for Japan by the International Diabetes Federation as an easy guideline for identifying health risks
he he, how women are allowed to have that extra 2 inches but not men ?? Just curios  | |
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NERO1
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Joined: 3/8/2008
Msg: 9 | |
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| Japanese government tackling obesity, fines for companies.
Posted: 6/24/2008 9:54:47 PM | 33.5 inches is tuff stuff. Just a bit more from the OP's article:
...critics say that the government guidelines — especially the one about male waistlines — are simply too strict and that more than half of all men will be considered overweight. The effect, they say, will be to encourage overmedication and ultimately raise health care costs.
"""Companies like Matsushita must measure the waistlines of at least 80 percent of their employees....NEC, Japan’s largest maker of personal computers, said that if it failed to meet its targets, it could incur as much as $19 million in penalties.
...Some experts say the government’s guidelines on everything from waistlines to blood pressure are so strict that meeting, or exceeding, those targets will be impossible. They say that the government’s real goal is to shift health care costs onto the private sector.
...The ministry also says that curbing widening waistlines will rein in a rapidly aging society’s ballooning health care costs, one of the most serious and politically delicate problems facing Japan today.
At Matsuyama’s public health clinic, Kinichiro Ichikawa, 62, said the government-approved 33.5-inch male waistline was “severe.” He is 5-foot-4, weighs only 134 pounds and knows no one who is overweight
Akio Inoue, 30, an engineer carrying 238 pounds on a 5-foot-7 frame, was told by a company doctor to lose weight or take medication for his high blood pressure. After dieting, he was down to 182 pounds, but his waistline was still more than one inch over the state-approved limit.
...the average waist size for Caucasian American men was 39 inches, a full inch lower than the 40-inch threshold established by the International Diabetes Federation. American women did not fare as well, with an average waist size of 36.5 inches, about two inches above their threshold of 34.6 inches. The differences in thresholds reflected variations in height and body type from Japanese men and women.
http://www.nytimes.com/2008/06/13/world/asia/13fat.html?pagewanted=2&_r=1&ref=health
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Interesting story. | |
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D_lily
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Joined: 11/25/2007
Msg: 11 | |
| Japanese government tackling obesity, fines for companies.
Posted: 6/24/2008 10:07:55 PM | I have been hearing news reports that a movement is going to start in the government sector and then into mainstream health compliance in The United States.
In the plan if you test positive for cigarette smoking you will be terminated. Following suit are the other high risk health issues, weight, diabetes, heart, liver and pretty much any health affliction.
They are trying to move toward nationwide health coverage, socialized medicine. As one person commented " unless we are a perfect human species we won't be able to work and support our selves or families". | |
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| Japanese government tackling obesity, fines for companies.
Posted: 6/26/2008 8:00:45 PM | I'd say that there's more selection in food here. We have just as much access to non-junky foods as the French, at comparable prices. Fruits, organic vegetables, healthy cereals, etc. Sure, we have inexpensive crap foods too (you get what you pay for), but that doesn't negate the fact that those healthy alternatives exist. At good prices.
We have the choice to eat well. But we choose not to. | |
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| Japanese government tackling obesity, fines for companies.
Posted: 6/27/2008 10:04:53 AM | I think the obesity epidemic is more complicated than to blame it solely on diet. I say this because in recent years there has been a significant increase in lower fat healthier foods , and it is only getting worse ....not better .
I think that there is some sort of metabolism disorder that is present and epidemic and the incidence of diabetes is very much on the rise .
I should think that research into metabolism would be helpful , since the dieting merry-go-round is a dismal failure.
Also , some say that the explosion of vaccine use is responsible for a wide variety of ill health , which is an extremely serious implication and it is certainly worth some serious inquiry . | |
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| Japanese government tackling obesity, fines for companies.
Posted: 6/28/2008 3:25:16 AM | I think the obesity epidemic is more complicated than to blame it solely on diet. I say this because in recent years there has been a significant increase in lower fat healthier foods , and it is only getting worse ....not better .
I think that there is some sort of metabolism disorder that is present and epidemic and the incidence of diabetes is very much on the rise .
I should think that research into metabolism would be helpful , since the dieting merry-go-round is a dismal failure.
the obesity epidemic is a simple mathematical calculation : less calories out and more calories in makes a person calorie wealthy- which they then store as fat. if you expend more calories via exercise than the amount you ingest then the fat store you have will be called upon and weight will be lost. the diet book/fads industry make alot of money telling weaker willed people the prefered message but all this does is allow individuals to go further into denial and put the responsibility of their failings on to someone else.
so the Japanese government taking action now? can only be a good thing. where I work (IT deskbound industry in England)the vending machines have been removed. hot drinks can only be consumed in the cafeteria and not at our desks and the cafeteria has had the healthy options subsidised to make them more popular. The net gain (or weight loss) is that we are all becoming slightly healthier becuase of initiatives from our employer- someone will no doubt claim freedom of choice being infringed yet we all agreed beforehand with our employer and the removal of temptation has been a big win- the office is no longer a place where people have chocolate or cake with their tea and coffee and the cafeteria also promotes fresh fruit as free alternatives as snacks. my employer has reasoned that in the long term: illness, tiredness levels and the health of his people will improve by company initiatives and not by waiting for individuals to make up their own minds, as its all about changing the overarching culture more than anything else. so Government initiatives for better health- yes please. | |
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| Japanese government tackling obesity, fines for companies.
Posted: 6/28/2008 11:07:46 PM |
"""Companies like Matsushita must measure the waistlines of at least 80 percent of their employees....NEC, Japan’s largest maker of personal computers, said that if it failed to meet its targets, it could incur as much as $19 million in penalties.
Now how would a company enforce this on it employees?
Measure ever waist and find the one that or over their measurement.
1) Then give the person a couple of months to lose the inches? If they do not lose the inches. Then lay the person off.
2) Hold back enough of the person's pay to pay the penalty. | |
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| Japanese government tackling obesity, fines for companies.
Posted: 6/29/2008 5:53:14 AM | | In the insurance business the insurance company will have to pay the bill if something goes wrong so they make the rules...as they should.it is not fair to expect them to pay up but have no say in anything....obesity cost other people money as well as the individual... you work out,stay fit and yet your insurance rates at work go up because most of your co workers are fat and have health problems and are filing claims all the time. | |
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