The National Health Research 2006 Report revealed health statistics that shocked the Japanese nation. One out of every two men and one in every five women within the 40 to 74 age group in Japan, show signs of metabolic syndrome. These were statistics that the Japanese Government were unable to ignore. It wasn’t long until the term “metabolic syndrome” started appearing on TV and street signs and soon enough everyone across the nation seems to be talking about this issue.
It was in April of this year that the Japanese Government passed a law for all companies and local governments to measure their waistline. Any men with their waistlines exceeding 83.75 cm (33.5 inches) and any women with their waistlines exceeding 88.50 cm (35.4 inches) will be categorized as having metabolic syndrome. The consequence will be for their firms to take responsibility through financial penalties.
How should you judge whether the government is conducting fair practices to battle against health risks? Is this the proper way to raise awareness for health concerns such as the metabolic syndrome? If a nation such as Japan is implementing such regulations in response to obesity, will America follow next with similar practices to save their generations of supersized adult and children?
