With ever-increasing numbers of Western-style fast-food restaurants opening across the country, the Japanese government established this strategy to keep obesity rates low. Should a similar crisis develop in Japan, an exorbitant strain would be put on public health resources hence, Metabo Law. Well many believe and I tend to also bend towards the idea that big pharmaceutical companies have a play in this role in this Metabo law decision. For adults between the ages of 45 and 74, there is even a government policy called Metabo Law, which stipulates what your waist measurements should be (33.5 inches for men and 35.4 inches for women), and is monitored through annual company health checks. Comparable figures for the Japanese are sketchy since waistlines have not been measured officially in the past. All Right Reserved. A child born within 300 days of divorce is still legally considered the child of the original husband. The law was amended in 2016 to state that women may remarry immediately after divorce unless they are pregnant, in which case they must wait 100 days to remarry. This is a delightfully quirky little law. [29], In October 2011, British prime minister David Cameron told reporters that his government might introduce a Fat Tax as part of the solution to the UK's high obesity rate. Sumo wrestlers are celebrated Japanese athletes, and none of them meet the recommended waist size do the government make exceptions for those involved in sumo wrestling? A concerning study published just one year after the introduction of Metabo Law outlined the fact that rates of eating disorders in Japan are sharply increasing. A nurse wrapped a tape measure around his waist across his belly button: 33.6 inches, or 0.1 inch over the limit. It is policed through an annual mandatory check up of the waist measurements of 40-75 year-olds thats over 56 million waistlines, or about 44 percent of the entire population. For the Soviet tax on food, see, Rudd Center for Food Policy and Obesity at Yale, Center for Science in the Public Interest, "Another Thing Big In Japan: Measuring Waistlines", "The Public Health and Economic Benefits of Taxing Sugar-Sweetened Beverages", "Price and maternal obesity influence purchasing of low- and high-energy-dense foods", "Could targeted food taxes improve health? Matsushita, which makes Panasonic products, has to measure the waistlines of at least 80% of its employees, along with their families and retirees. Anyone can read what you share. Since 2008, it has been deemed illegal to be fat in Japan under the "Metabo Law," in which lawmakers have set a maximum waistline of 33.5 inches for men aged over 40 and 35.4 inches for women . Itll have the same effect as non-smoking campaigns where smokers are now looked at disapprovingly.. Japans population is both rapidly ageing and shrinking, with the burden to care for elders falling on the diminishing working generation, so this policy is essentially trying to kill two birds with one stone. In 2008, the Japanese government passed a striking but controversial law, nicknamed the metabo law, from Metabolism , which stands for Standard Concerning Implementation Special Health Examinations and Special Public Health Guidance . A poster at a public health clinic in Japan reads, "Goodbye, metabo," a word associated with being overweight. In 2008 lawmakers in Japan passed the Metabo Law, hoping that it would stop the dreaded metabolic syndrome from affecting aging populations. Metabo Law, introduced in 2008 (read more about this here) enforces mandatory waist measurements for citizens between the ages of 40 and 74. This is another one of those laws thats so specific you wonder what the origin of it was. Snopes and the Snopes.com logo are registered service marks of Snopes.com. Published with, Youve successfully subscribed to Japanjunky. Introduced in 2008. (LogOut/ Kim LaCapria is a former writer for Snopes. The population of Japan is expected to fall from 126 million today to about 83 million in 2100 when todays babies will be in their old age. Disclaimer: everything stated here is scientifically-backed by peer-reviewed journal articles, international and government reports. So is it true? In Japan, employers are required to measure the waistlines of employees between the ages of 40 and 74. Its a regulation that enforces annual health check-ups in an effort to prevent obesity and metabolic syndrome. First Published: 8 February 2023. So, in 2008, Japan banned its citizens from being fat. Critics of Metabo Law hold this up as an example if the government is so concerned about public health, then why isnt smoking penalized in the same way? [42], "Food tax" redirects here. The goal of the program is to decrease the prevalence of metabolic syndrome in the most vulnerable Japanese population through preventive interventions to help lower the burden of disease of Japans population as it ages. Primary prevention of CVD, diabetes and obesity occurs through MetS screening during the annual check-ups. Metabo Law aims to eradicate obesity and other metabolic disorders in Japan through the systematic monitoring of waist sizes of citizens between the ages of 40 and 74. [8] Current proposals frequently single out sugar-sweetened drinks as a target for taxation. This law was put in place to deter scientists from dabbling in human cloning research. One could argue that the introduction of pro-active health-boosting initiatives by companies and local authorities eager to avoid fines is a success in itself. 2. Metabo is a shortened version of the term metabolic syndrome, and this is where the law takes its name from. There, the cult of food is just as developed as in America, but it goes hand to hand with the cult of slimness. While Japan cant control whether or not another country offensively attacks them, it is written into the Japanese constitution since World War II that Japan may not maintain any form of army, navy or air force. American women did not fare as well, with an average waist size of 36.5 inches, about two inches above their threshold of 34.6 inches. According to a research collaboration done by Oxford University and Copenhagen University, it was found that 4% less saturated fat was bought and more fruit and vegetables were bought in response to this tax. 2006. Japan shouldnt be making such a fuss about this, he said before going off to have his waistline measured. While it is true that you cant smoke on the sidewalks in Japan, you will find numerous designated smoking areas in public outdoor areas that you can use to satisfy your cravings. With the new law, Matsushita has to measure the waistlines of not only its employees but also of their families and retirees. If necessary, those people will be steered toward further re-education after six more months. What do Japanese girls look for in a guy? Opponents of the Metabo Law maintain the weight guidelines are too strict. Im not going, he said. Would you turn up to have your waistline measured? Press question mark to learn the rest of the keyboard shortcuts . The traditional Japanese diet is celebrated for its healthiness, and its uncommon to own a car in urban areas. So there you have it a whistle-stop tour of just a handful of the most unique aspects of Japans constitution. The country's Ministry of Health argues that the campaign will keep the spread of diseases like diabetes and strokes in check. In January 2008, Japan passed the "Metabo Law" in an effort to curb obesity in that country. It is now a part of the daily lexicon. Dr Harvey Wiley criticised an increase in tax on oleomargarine (but commonly called the Butter Tax) as it punished artificial products whilst allowing adulterated butter to be untaxed. In a 1994 op-ed in The New York Times, Brownell noted that food costs were out of balance, with healthy foods costing more than unhealthy ones. It might come as no surprise to learn that the country which implemented the fat tax was none other than Japan. 7. If you're coming to Japan during the hot summer days, I strongly recommend taking a beer holder with you, especially if you plan on hitting up some festivals during your trip. The statute of limitations for murder was previously 25 years which in effect meant if you could cover your crime for 25 years, you could then freely boast about murdering someone without consequence. The statute being lifted means that Japan can now prosecute for historical murder cases, as is the situation in virtually every other justice system worldwide. A related idea is to tax foods that are linked to increased risk of coronary heart disease. In 2008 (not 2009 as mentioned in the message), Japanese parliament approved a law saying that it is illegal to be fat in Japan, and this was declared as a war against obesity and also to cut down the government health costs of old age citizens. However, Japanese culture is well-versed in taking a collective societal approach to issues, and as such the Metabo Law is not as shocking in this country as it might be elsewhere. Companies like Matsushita must measure the waistlines of at least 80 percent of their employees. But a growing concern in Japan over the spiralling health costs of an ageing population which would only be greater if afflicted by metabolic syndrome caused the Government to act. The rate of smokers in Japan is extremely high. Now if you did this in the United States, there would be benefits, since there are many Americans who weigh more than 100 kilograms [220 pounds]. No, it is not illegal to be fat in Japan. Japanese people are normally envied for their lean physiques. The city had to measure at least 65 percent of the 40- to 74-year-olds covered by public health insurance, an extremely difficult goal, acknowledged Midori Noguchi, a city official. What about all those sumo wrestlers who spend hours maintaining their figures? ", "A Tax on Many Soft Drinks Sets Off a Spirited Debate", "Ounces of Prevention The Public Policy Case for Taxes on Sugared Beverages", "Intake of sugar-sweetened beverages and weight gain: a systematic review", "Effects of soft drink consumption on nutrition and health: a systematic review and meta-analysis", "Do poor people eat more junk food than wealthier Americans? It is an irony though that the country so concerned about metabolic syndrome, has the third largest number of per capita cigarette consumption outside Eastern Europe. Close. Goodbye, metabolic. David Mikkelson founded the site now known as snopes.com back in 1994. However, one of the great joys of visiting the nation is observing a whole country that is so collectively well-organized and ordered and this is thanks, in large part, to all these little rules. Despite these statistics, something is keeping the Japanese slim whether it is the layout of their cities that encourages walking and movement, the complexities of their diet, or the government intervention. Equal Employment. For example, between 2008 and 2015, the Act required 65% attendance for annual check-ups for the 40-74-year-old target population and a decrease in the rate of MetS within the local population by 25%. This is 100% true. Now we have to try to improve public health by other means." Press J to jump to the feed. In January 2008, Japan passed the "Metabo Law" which requires men and women between the ages of 45 and 74 to have their waistlines examined once a year and potentially seek medical treatment if their . [22] The New York Times op-ed piece that proposed the "fat tax" elicited controversy and outrage nationwide. Distribution and use of this material are governed by our Subscriber Agreement and by copyright law. The differences in thresholds reflected variations in height and body type from Japanese men and women. Got a question about Japan? Being fat in Japan. Introduced in Japan on 1st April 2008 to combat the rising numbers of people with metabolic syndrome. Taxing foods that provide primarily calories, with little other nutritional value reduces this problem, since calories are readily available from many sources in diet of industrialized nations. Of course, this law doesnt correspond to how life actually works people can have babies without being married, and the person they have a baby with can be someone other than their spouse. You will be referred on for lifestyle intervention. First of all, the appropriateness of using waist circumference as a diagnosis tool is under scrutiny by the international community. Long-Term Care, Health and Welfare Services for the Elderly. In 2008, it introduced the Metabo law, which required . There used to be a law in place that stated divorced women could not get remarried until six months after their divorce was finalized, while men could remarry instantly. [35][36] The failure of Denmark's fat tax was also due to financial reasons, with politicians identifying the fat tax as a funding source for the government, rather than a health initiative that attempted to improve the health outcomes of society. In the event of MetS diagnosis, medically trained staff provide targeted intervention and education based on the severity and number of risk factors, to help patients minimise, interrupt and even reverse their symptoms. Well, okay, this is a bit of an exaggeration. [33], In October 2011, Denmark introduced a fat tax on butter, milk, cheese, pizza, meat, oil and processed food if the item contains more than 2.3% saturated fat. Japan is one of the least obese developed nations in the world, according to the Organization for Economic Cooperation and Development (OECD), and Yoichi Ogushi, professor at Tokai University's School of Medicine, has argued the law will not have much of an effect on the health of Japan's citizens: "I don't think the campaign will have any positive effect. In no time, the scary-sounding condition was popularly shortened to the funny-sounding metabo, and it has become the nations shorthand for overweight. 3, 2008. Japan - the country where being overweight is now illegal. According to the law, companies and local governments must annually measure the waistlines of Japanese workers and citizens who are between 40 and 74 years old. What kind of behavior could get you into unexpected trouble on your Japanese odyssey? [32] However, this has erroneously been taken to mean that the 'metabo' law makes obesity illegal. Compulsory waist measurements are taken for all 40 to 74-year-olds as part of their annual health check-ups. Credit. The "metabo law" requires all citizens over age 40 to have their waist measurements taken once a year. Employers or local government are required to ensure a minimum of 65% participation, with an overall goal to cut the countrys obesity rates by 25% by year 2015. A law in Japan makes it illegal for citizens of that country to be fat. Jul. What if you were in danger of failing the test? With no visible paunch, he seemed to run little risk of being classified as overweight, or metabo, the preferred word in Japan these days. The Japanese policy, called Metabo law is, in theory, simple stay below a government-mandated waistline or face the consequences. Five studies published between 1981 and 1998 found that drinking declined as the price of alcohol increased. [15] Taxes on tobacco have seen smoking rates decrease, and as a result there have been calls for fat taxes to be implemented in more countries in an attempt to reduce the consumption of unhealthy foods.[14]. So if youre worried about metabo, stopping people from smoking should be your top priority.. Go! Japan is known for being one of the least obese countries in the world: 3.6 percent of Japanese people have a body mass index (BMI) over 30, while only 24.7 percent have a BMI of over 25, and there is also the famous 2008 "Metabo Law" or essentially a "fat tax" that was designed to counteract the growing rates of diabetes and heart . Check your email for magic link to sign-in. All Right Reserved. In 2008 the Japanese Ministry of Health, Labour and Welfare introduced the 'Metabo Law' which requires men and women between the ages of 40 and 74 to have their waist circumference measured annually. 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