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Japan Imposes "Fine On Fat"
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by kferaday | June 24, 2008 at 11:13 am
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Pretty radical but considering rapidly escalating healthcare costs here I wonder if we're heading down the same path in North America.
An anonymous reader writes "A recently-introduced law in Japan requires all businesses to have mandatory obesity checks (video link) for all their employees and employees' family members over the age of 40, CNN reports. If the employee or family member is deemed obese, and does not lose the extra fat soon, their employer faces large fines. The legislated upper limit for the waistline is 33.5" for men, and 35.5" for women. Should America adopt universal health insurance, could we live to see the same kind of individual health regulations imposed on us by the government? By comparison, the average waistline in America in 2005 was 39 inches for men, 37 inches for women."
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Most RecentMost Recommended Comments (9)
at 11:23 on June 24th, 2008
Interesting. I would imagine that this would be a pretty controversial move in any country, but I suppose it could offer an incentive for people to take care of themselves and to get in shape. That's never a bad thing in my opinion.
at 11:40 on June 24th, 2008
Some U.S. payers have implemented disease management programs that increase premiums and/or deductibles if the member/patient doesn't hit program milestones. These could include adherence to drug regimens, diet, etc. I don't see why they couldn't add a weight to the list of requirements given that weight can be a factor in acquiring health problems such as high blood pressure, chronic heart disease, back problems etc.
at 14:52 on June 24th, 2008
Those are tough standards--I'm just half an inch away from obesity. How come women are allowed to be fatter? Men have a disadvantage because all our fat goes to our stomachs.
at 15:42 on June 24th, 2008
I'm not sure why women are given more latitude. Women naturally have a higher percent body fat than men so maybe that has something to do with it.
at 14:58 on June 24th, 2008
I'd honestly consider this discrimination if looked at as solely measurements... and this isn't really all that big, even for Japan. And this doesn't (as Hadsie so accurately pointed out) account for the fact that a LOT of horribly unhealthy people are 'normal' in appearance. If this is just for health insurance, it needs more criteria.
If you want to combat obesity, regulate restaurant menues and charge over-weight people more for plane, train and subway tickets... over a certain weight? Pay the extra charge. It sounds calous, but we do it for 'extra baggage' no matter what the importance or reason you're carrying it; it's the same thing. Want to combat voluntary causes of heart disease? Charge more for cigarettes and make daily exercise a mandatory job requirement.
at 15:47 on June 24th, 2008
Again agreed, but what if you still choose to smoke or eat fast food every day and then develop lung cancer or diabetes or chronic heart disease. High blood pressure, diabetes, chronic heart disease, asthma and back problems account for a significant portion of health care costs (use the 80/20 rule). Obesity is a precuser for many of these. At some point shouldn't you be penalized if you choose certain activities that are high risk?
at 15:59 on June 24th, 2008
Absolutely. Barring things beyond [your] control, you should pay extra for the results of your poor choices. It costs the rest of us now, especially here in Canada...
at 16:00 on June 24th, 2008
I'm just not sure that your waist size alone is a good indicator.
at 16:05 on June 24th, 2008
Agreed.