Obesity is illegal in Japan!

[Spintendo]

That law was meant to pressure companies and local governments, not individuals. The law, officially known as the Standards Concerning Implementation of Special Health Checkups and Healthcare Guidances was passed in 2008 and only applies to employed people between the ages of 40 and 75.

It persuades medical insurers to utilize their employee health checkup result-data more proactively by mandating that those providers unable to meet guidelines pay 10% more into the national health insurance program. This equates to millions of dollars for large corporations that have employees who are unhealthy.[nb]Japanese Ministry of Health, Labour, and Welfare. Specific Health Checkups and Specific Health Guidances, pages 10-11. http://www.mhlw.go.jp/file/06-Seisakujouhou-10900000-Kenkoukyoku/0000047330.pdf [/nb]

[Minerboh80]

Only the japanese can come up with such a stupid law like this.
I agree that being fat is bad and it must be contained but this is ridicilous.

[nordicblue]

Even as you say that, Japan has the highest life expectancy in the world for women and very high for men.  In addition, they also tend to be the thinnest.  Whatever rhetoric exists for health insurance companies making windfall profits, is a moot point.  Obese cause excess strain on the health care system, increasing the cost for healthier individuals who strain the system less.  Also, obesity is comorbid with increased stress and depression, further compounding the problem of decreased productivity.  The reason why the law is in place for the aforementioned age bracket is because the metabolism slows down as you age; therefore, it is less likely to occur among younger Japanese people.

http://www.who.int/mediacentre/news/releases/2014/world-health-statistics-2014/en/
http://www.helpguide.org/harvard/how-excess-weight-affects-your-health.htm
http://www.cdc.gov/obesity/childhood/problem.html

[nordicblue]

We should be setting a better precedent for the children in this generation.

[Minerboh80]

Yes but they should take it on a lighter tone.
Fat is not generated exclusively by eating.
There are some diseases that can make someone fat.

[Bisougarou]

It's written in the article that

1. There is no fine or penalty for those who exceed the recommended measurements
   The penalties will only be for the companies that doesn't send their employees on medical examinations.

2. Men […] women […] are considered “at risk” and are referred to counseling, email and phone monitoring and correspondence, along with motivational support

So basically it's not illegal to be overweight in Japan it's just monitored when you're over 40 (which is when overweight can get really problematic for your heart).

I don't see what is wrong about this law! It means to protect, supervise and inform and as long as the employees goes to the medical even the companies won't pay a thing.

Plus, guys the law is effective since 2008 and in 4 years I think we'd have learned about it if it was that ridiculous  :hehe:

[masanopat]

If the purpose of this law is to help people at risk of heart attack and other degenerative diseases related to being over weight then this is a good law. Nonetheless, I believe that this law will in some way or another raise the awareness of the Japanese citizens regarding the ill effects of being overweight.

[nordicblue]

Being obese in no way, shape or form is natural.  Some conditions such as hypothyroidism may cause extra weight gain, but it can be managed with medication.  Being overweight is one thing, but no one naturally has a BMI>30.0 and is healthy.

Poiseuille's Law describes the work performed by the heart and laminar blood flow.

L = length of blood vessel
μ = blood viscosity, which will increase with unhealthy diet because the blood platelets will adhere to one another.
Q = flow rate
r = radius of the vessel, whether it vasoconstricts or vasodilates.

For each pound of adipose tissue you gain, your body gains extra mile of vessels.  As the equation describes, for each unit length of vessel you gain, the resistance increases by 10%.  If you impact your arteries with cholesterol, mostly likely by being obese, the resistance is increased to the fourth power.  This means that if the arteries are vasoconstricted by 50%, the resistance (how hard the heart has to work) increases 16 fold.

[tuckstee]

I would feel bad for the sumo if obesity were truly outlawed.

[nordicblue]

It is enforced by the employers, not the government, which gave the employers the authority to do so.

[MrMazda]

That's insane… More insane than the fact that ALL McDonald's in the USA as of January 1, 2015 require that passengers be weighed on a scale to determine if they're "obease" enough to be refused service.

[nordicblue]

@MrMazda:

That's insane… More insane than the fact that ALL McDonald's in the USA as of January 1, 2015 require that passengers be weighed on a scale to determine if they're "obease" enough to be refused service.

What is insane about that?  McDonald's is taking some social responsibility for their part in causing obesity.  Secondly, consider your source.  Have you been to a McDonald's and seen this happen?  I have been to a McDonald's in California and they did not do this.

[Bisougarou]

@MrMazda:

That's insane… More insane than the fact that ALL McDonald's in the USA as of January 1, 2015 require that passengers be weighed on a scale to determine if they're "obease" enough to be refused service.

No it is not. What you heard of it surely is but the truth isn't. This law has been created to force large business groups to send their employees on medical examination. Which isn't useful only to discover if you're obease but also to do a check-up with a medical expert.

The consequences of the law are : 1° Employees that don't force their workers to go are being charged with a heavy penalty (which is pretty much like every other law )

2° People that shows sings of obeasity are to be listed for further examinations and advices. Meaning that a dietician will explains how/why being over-heighted can be really bad and what are to be changed in your life if you want to live longer.

Sincerely, I don't see what's bad in all that

[nordicblue]

I don't see anything wrong with it either.

[MrMazda]

@Bisougarou:

The consequences of the law are : 1° Employees that don't force their workers to go are being charged with a heavy penalty (which is pretty much like every other law )

2° People that shows sings of obeasity are to be listed for further examinations and advices. Meaning that a dietician will explains how/why being over-heighted can be really bad and what are to be changed in your life if you want to live longer.

Sincerely, I don't see what's bad in all that

Call me a conspiracy theorist if you must, but the "issue" so to speak that I see there is that it sounds like a classic case of trying to milk the hands of the medical system. I guess there are some areas that do not believe in a person's right to refuse services and/or treatment. Not to mention it also brings the question of who ends up paying the bills for these visits? Is there some sort of universal medical coverage in Japan, or is it funded by either the employers or the person being sent directly?

It's just really hard to wrap my brain around any other way of looking at such a law.

[nordicblue]

Japan has a national health care system.  If you allow the problem (obesity) to fester, it will actually cost more because those obese people will have more health issues, spreading an even greater cost across decent, hard working and healthy individuals who do not want to pay for a gluttonous person.  By requiring them to address the problem proactively, it saves money and sets a precedent for people to take care of themselves.  Even if they have a disease that makes them obese, it is even more of a reason to go to the doctor.  If you have a disease, then it is responsible to treat it and take care of it.  Nobody should have the right to take more at the expense of others.  If you want to do something that does not effect others, then that is fine.

[Bisougarou]

@MrMazda:

Call me a conspiracy theorist if you must, but the "issue" so to speak that I see there is that it sounds like a classic case of trying to milk the hands of the medical system. I guess there are some areas that do not believe in a person's right to refuse services and/or treatment. Not to mention it also brings the question of who ends up paying the bills for these visits? Is there some sort of universal medical coverage in Japan, or is it funded by either the employers or the person being sent directly?

It's just really hard to wrap my brain around any other way of looking at such a law.

It's true indeed that each and everyone of us have the right's not to be treated or to go to a doctor (I, myself, am not a doctor person and prefer to take the carrot to keep him away  ;D ) but this law has been made after seeing the consequences that the work's stress has over almost all the employees in Japan.

Obesity is just like… A red flag. It's what alarms the autority and what they'll use to warn people but basically they intend to fight all bad consequences that goes with work! Japan is still one of the countries where people go harakiri over work  and they're like in top 3 if not first...

I guess they're revoking a basic right to fight obesity and all the shit that goes with stress... I really think it's a good thing but I see why it could bother someone ^^

For the bills, if treatment/monitoring is needed there is a part for the company and the other part for the health care system.

[nordicblue]

When your problem becomes somebody else's problem as well, then that person looses the right to decline medical help.  It is now a group problem and the group now has a say in your problem.

[johns3]

I guess that will make it clear that I'll never find my hot chub in Japan… Lol
Well regardless Japan is contaminated from the radioactive so not interested whatever they do or say.

[Matie]

Yes the sport of sumo might be in serious trouble. Also rather than checking customers for obesity, customers should be able to check McDonald's products for food content.