Obesity has become an escalating issue, crippling the health of people around the world- leading companies, organizations and everyday civilians to join the fight to prevent it. Fueled by fear of massive weight gain and lethal decreasing health, the world has begun monitoring obesity even in countries whose population is known to be some of the 'thinnest'. This has been the case in Japan since early 2011, when law mandated being obese or "overweight", dependent on a set scale, has become illegal in the typical Japanese workplace. The law provides restrictions of waistlines dependent on age: to anyone 40 and older, a waistline of 85 centimeters (33.5 inches) for men, and 90 centimeters (35.4 inches) for women (Nakamura). Attempting to reach a healthier standard, companies aren’t taking any chances and have developed work place meal restriction; physical activity sessions throughout working hours and even discounted gym memberships for employees. If a nation known for its small body mass and healthy diet has taken upon this feat against obesity, it makes us wonder if other countries would benefit even more from this law.
Currently, America is the leading nation facing the obesity epidemic. With weight of Americans rising to devastating numbers in recent times, it brings up the question whether or not the country needs laws set in place to combat obesity. Enforcing obesity-related laws in the USA is a controversial issue, due to the fact that it may have a positive effect by regaining the health of a nation, or a negative one with its restriction of freedom about what people can/cannot consume. Though judging by how obesity is becoming so bad, I personally believe a law should be set in place to monitor weight gain and obesity, but cannot ignore the fact that some freedom may be lost along the way. Once a nation reaches a certain percentage of obesity, a law such as the one in Japan, may give a populous a much-needed push towards getting healthier. The percentage may derive from an estimate of the nations obese (polls, surveys and medical records used to calculate this estimate), and could be used to set certain limitations of individual weight and diet- potentially limiting the influence/growth of the fast food industry. Hopefully Japans example will compel America to also follow their lead, or find a similar method to re-gain their health.
The streets of Japan have been flooded with mass produced food vendors, replacing typical Japanese-oriented restaurants and meals with fast food from McDonalds, Wendy's, KFC and many others. Given the busy life style and work habits in Japan, the convenience of fast food has negatively affected people’s dietary choices, and especially has led to the neglect of dietary needs. Caloric intake plays a major role in the influence of these newly raised fast food industries in Japan. On average, a Japanese meal consists of 600 calories:(miso soup, white rice, mixed vegetables, and a small portion of light meat, primarily fish). In comparison, a Big Mac, large fry and large drink at McDonalds is almost 1300 calories- a little more than double the calories of what a typical Japanese civilian would eat per meal (CNN). This shocking difference further explains the fear of obesity escalating in japans government. Inhabitants as well are growing concerned about the growing fast-food interest in the country as well as something known as 'metabo', also known as Metabolic Syndrome. Metabolic Syndrome, to the Japanese, consists of a combination of health risks, commonly including high blood pressure, high cholesterol, stomach flab and other factors, which could lead to cardiovascular disease or diabetes (Nakamura). Playing such an important role in Japans health, metabo has become a primary reason why the law has set in place. Even though the fast food industry continues to assert itself into he every day health of the Japanese, concern about the waistline and financial tolls the nation will take in the near future still progresses.
Hoping to save the nation money by preventing and eliminating health risks connected to obesity, the “Metabo Law” has become an overpowering push to transform Japanese back into their once healthy populous. Under Japanese health coverage, employees have annual check-ups administered by the companies they work for, and if they fail to meet the waistline requirement, they must undergo counseling. Also if companies don’t reduce the number of overweight employees by 10% (by 2012) and 25% (by 2015), they could be required to pay more money to japans health care program for the elderly. The number of [people with diabetes has also increased from 6.9 million in 1997 to 8.9 million in 2009- estimated to increase health care costs by double by 2020 (11.5% of Japan’s GDP) which is why some support the Metabo Law (Nakamura). However, doctors in japan argue that the strict waistline measurements conflicts with the International Diabetes Federations’ recommended guidelines for Japan, and still, normal weighted Japanese are taking strives to lose even more pounds.
Across the globe, the United States may also be facing a similar situation of obesity and diabetes increasing vastly over the next few years. To help the overweight but also give more freedom, the United States Senate and House of Representatives have created health care reform bills, which include the “Safeway Amendment”. This Amendment offers reductions in insurance premiums to US citizens who lead a healthier and fitter lifestyle (Nakamura). If the American government, and Americans in general, are willing to follow Japans lead in the fight against obesity, will laws be soon set in place? Laws could not only save America’s health but millions of lives and dollars. It comes at a cost with flack of freedom and weight standards pushed upon citizens, though I believe it would be beneficial for our nation in the long run. Everyone is entitled to their own opinion, but hopefully in the near future we will see many nations follow in Japans footsteps and take a final plunge to decrease obesity.
References:
CNN News. CNN- Being FAT is Now ILLEGAL in Japan. Youtube. N.p., 1 Dec. 2011. Web. 23 Oct. 2012. <http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=TU_Ezs3gXB0>.
Nakamura, David. “Fat in Japan? You’re Breaking the Law.” Editorial. Global Post. Ed. Emily Lodish, Hanna Ingber, and Thomas Mucha. Global Post- International News, 2012. Web. 26 Oct. 2012. <http://www.globalpost.com/dispatch/japan/091109/fat-japan- youre-breaking-the-law>.
Currently, America is the leading nation facing the obesity epidemic. With weight of Americans rising to devastating numbers in recent times, it brings up the question whether or not the country needs laws set in place to combat obesity. Enforcing obesity-related laws in the USA is a controversial issue, due to the fact that it may have a positive effect by regaining the health of a nation, or a negative one with its restriction of freedom about what people can/cannot consume. Though judging by how obesity is becoming so bad, I personally believe a law should be set in place to monitor weight gain and obesity, but cannot ignore the fact that some freedom may be lost along the way. Once a nation reaches a certain percentage of obesity, a law such as the one in Japan, may give a populous a much-needed push towards getting healthier. The percentage may derive from an estimate of the nations obese (polls, surveys and medical records used to calculate this estimate), and could be used to set certain limitations of individual weight and diet- potentially limiting the influence/growth of the fast food industry. Hopefully Japans example will compel America to also follow their lead, or find a similar method to re-gain their health.
The streets of Japan have been flooded with mass produced food vendors, replacing typical Japanese-oriented restaurants and meals with fast food from McDonalds, Wendy's, KFC and many others. Given the busy life style and work habits in Japan, the convenience of fast food has negatively affected people’s dietary choices, and especially has led to the neglect of dietary needs. Caloric intake plays a major role in the influence of these newly raised fast food industries in Japan. On average, a Japanese meal consists of 600 calories:(miso soup, white rice, mixed vegetables, and a small portion of light meat, primarily fish). In comparison, a Big Mac, large fry and large drink at McDonalds is almost 1300 calories- a little more than double the calories of what a typical Japanese civilian would eat per meal (CNN). This shocking difference further explains the fear of obesity escalating in japans government. Inhabitants as well are growing concerned about the growing fast-food interest in the country as well as something known as 'metabo', also known as Metabolic Syndrome. Metabolic Syndrome, to the Japanese, consists of a combination of health risks, commonly including high blood pressure, high cholesterol, stomach flab and other factors, which could lead to cardiovascular disease or diabetes (Nakamura). Playing such an important role in Japans health, metabo has become a primary reason why the law has set in place. Even though the fast food industry continues to assert itself into he every day health of the Japanese, concern about the waistline and financial tolls the nation will take in the near future still progresses.
Hoping to save the nation money by preventing and eliminating health risks connected to obesity, the “Metabo Law” has become an overpowering push to transform Japanese back into their once healthy populous. Under Japanese health coverage, employees have annual check-ups administered by the companies they work for, and if they fail to meet the waistline requirement, they must undergo counseling. Also if companies don’t reduce the number of overweight employees by 10% (by 2012) and 25% (by 2015), they could be required to pay more money to japans health care program for the elderly. The number of [people with diabetes has also increased from 6.9 million in 1997 to 8.9 million in 2009- estimated to increase health care costs by double by 2020 (11.5% of Japan’s GDP) which is why some support the Metabo Law (Nakamura). However, doctors in japan argue that the strict waistline measurements conflicts with the International Diabetes Federations’ recommended guidelines for Japan, and still, normal weighted Japanese are taking strives to lose even more pounds.
Across the globe, the United States may also be facing a similar situation of obesity and diabetes increasing vastly over the next few years. To help the overweight but also give more freedom, the United States Senate and House of Representatives have created health care reform bills, which include the “Safeway Amendment”. This Amendment offers reductions in insurance premiums to US citizens who lead a healthier and fitter lifestyle (Nakamura). If the American government, and Americans in general, are willing to follow Japans lead in the fight against obesity, will laws be soon set in place? Laws could not only save America’s health but millions of lives and dollars. It comes at a cost with flack of freedom and weight standards pushed upon citizens, though I believe it would be beneficial for our nation in the long run. Everyone is entitled to their own opinion, but hopefully in the near future we will see many nations follow in Japans footsteps and take a final plunge to decrease obesity.
References:
CNN News. CNN- Being FAT is Now ILLEGAL in Japan. Youtube. N.p., 1 Dec. 2011. Web. 23 Oct. 2012. <http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=TU_Ezs3gXB0>.
Nakamura, David. “Fat in Japan? You’re Breaking the Law.” Editorial. Global Post. Ed. Emily Lodish, Hanna Ingber, and Thomas Mucha. Global Post- International News, 2012. Web. 26 Oct. 2012. <http://www.globalpost.com/dispatch/japan/091109/fat-japan- youre-breaking-the-law>.