Hefty Fines Coming for Overweight Japanese

ROBERT VOSBURGH

From the country that brought the world sumo wrestling comes a new government regulation designed to keep its populace from becoming obese. Health officials in Japan are requiring companies to reduce the number of overweight workers and their dependents by the year 2012, or face fines that will be used to offset eldercare programs. In the case of men, fines will kick in if his waist measures more than 33.5 inches. The government estimates that half of Japan's male population over age 40, and more than 20% of women, will be diagnosed with metabolic syndrome, a weight-related complex of illnesses that can include diabetes — until now a rare condition in the island nation.