Battle of the Bulge

Since I just mentioned odd things in Japan I might as follow-up with one.

From Business Week...

As part of a government drive to stem the prevalence of metabolic syndrome, a previously rarely mentioned disease that seems to cover everything that can increase the risk of cardiovascular disease or diabetes, waistlines are now being stringently monitored and, for anyone even slightly plump, acted upon.

For men 40 and over, waists must be no more than 33.5 in. Women get a bit more leeway and can swell to 35.4 in. Those exceeding the limits are given dietary guidance if they haven't lost weight within three months. Guidance includes things like agreeing to a weight-loss target and exercise program, e-mails to check on progress, and so forth.

To show they mean business, Japanese bureaucrats will impose financial penalties on companies and local governments that don't hit targets. For large companies with lots of employees the fines are potentially quite large, running to millions of dollars if they miss targets.

If that all sounds a bit Big Brother, it is. For the first time, I had to give a photocopy of my medical results to the company, presumably so the government can assess our collective health. Meanwhile, after the introduction of the rules last year, companies began marketing metabo-busting products, such as government-approved teas that help burn fat.