Friday, 07 November 2008
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Is Weight A Problem At Your Workplace?
This is a guest blog submitted by IrisLily22@xanga
I read the most surreal article in the New York Times about the Japanese government mandating companies to monitor the weight of their employees. Basically, Japanese citizens between the ages of 40 and 74 will now have their waistline measured annually. Those waistlines exceeding government limits, which are 33.5 inches for men and 35.4 inches for women, will cost companies and local governments pricey penalties. People above the specified girths will be given "dieting guidance" if they fail to lose weight themselves within three months, and will be "steered toward further re-education after six more months" if more help is necessary. The law went into effect five months ago.
The waist measurements of 33.5 and 35.4 for men and women respectively are not random. The International Diabetes Foundation released these numbers in 2005 as a guideline for identifying health risks. I know many US companies now give their employees gym membership discounts and encourage healthier lifestyles as a way to cut healthcare costs. I admire that, but I just imagined being turned away from a Krispy Kreme because I was overweight. I'm not overweight, but it was a scary thought.
In all seriousness, I think this is an infraction of civil liberties. If you want to lose weight, it should be a personal decision. At best, a doctor could step in if you are endangering your health. Having a high cholestorel level or diabetes are certainly signs that your lifestyle isn't a healthy one to follow, but I think mandating all people, es[ecially those our parent's age to go under the measuring tape is extreme.
What would happen if this law were enforced here? Would you or your parents follow through with this mandate?
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Comments (16)
it won't happen in america so don't worry about it.
It should happen considering people are always bitching about how we're the fattest country in America. Why don't we do something about it then? I think it's a good idea, considering most companies offer health insurance. I mean, think about it, it makes perfectly good sense to me. Plus, if companies did that here, I bet we, as a people would feel really good and have more energy. Just my two cents....
I think it should be required, ESPECIALLY in America. Japanese people are usually thin, I don't know why they are doing it there. American citizens are REALLY lazy, I dont care what anyone says, and if someone doesn't MAKE us (yes, US) lose weight or attempt to be healthy, then we simply wont. Being healthy is more than a personal thing, it definitely changes the lives of the people around you. In all seriousness, have you ever walked by a large person and smelled an awful stench? Not saying that all large people smell, but many do. What if you were at a store and you needed urgent help, but all of the employees were too overweight to get to you in time? What if your company lost so much money because of health insurance costs of its overweight employees? What if what if what if?
A) We need it!
B) I'm not sure who/how it will be enforced!
C) Definitely an infraction of civil liberties...
OMG! tht pretty strict but in a way it benefits yah! amazing jap.
@peacelove__CALLIE@xanga - singaporeans are pretty lazy too! hahaha!
I am in support of Japan's law. I think that the benefits weigh a lot more than the consequences.
Obesity is everyone's problem.
(The funniest thing is, I'm clinically obese!
)
I think its an interesting idea, and maybe even needed. However, its is such a HUGE infringement on our personal rights, there is no way that it would even be passed. Not in the US anyway.
I would definitely pass the test by their standards, but it just seems so invasive. Having my boss know my measurements is just too weird. I like what my parents' company does to encourage their employees to be healthy: they get a bonus if they work out a certain amount of time every month. It's optional, it's not invasive, and it encourages them to exercise.
And it seems to me a lot of people think that if you're fat, it automatically means you're unhealthy. I'm a healthy weight, but I am so out of shape it's not funny. I know several "fat" people who could kick my ass. I am trying to get back in shape, but it's not easy after having respiratory issues.
Weight is a huge problem at my workplace... the problem with that is, we're all (and friends outside of our workplace) are bodybuilders. So we're constantly trying to gain more and more weight to stay competitive with one another. A couple of them have turned pro, few still compete at the amateur level and the rest just enjoy the lifestyle of eating clean and lifting weights.
That mandate I suppose wouldn't affect us that much if they measured annually... since we bulk up all year round and diet down towards Oct/Nov. Having said that, I think it's an excellent idea as many americans are overweight and for some reason or another, lack the discipline, initiative or desire to do something about it themselves. When a person is sick and can't help themselves, I see no problem whatsoever with someone or something stepping in and wrestling that control away from them. Sure they may not be sick... but continuing along that unhealthy trend may eventually lead them there.
Obviously companies do this because they pay people's health insurance, and people are sick more and have more health problems when they're overweight. So, it's not just looking out for people to be nice.. it's like, if you want someone to pay health coverage, be responsible and take care of your body.
being overweight = loss of productivity. of course companies should control it. if they don't who will end this epidemic?
You're forgetting something. This is a control tactic by the Japanese government. This is a government that for a very long time has been all about controlling the lives of their citizens. This is one more step in that direction.
It wouldn't be a mandate in the U.S.A. The sad thing is, I've had call center jobs where they tell you from the get go "Be prepared to gain ten pounds working here. You're sitting down all day." Although, I think we have come dangerously close to this mandate with children being graded in school on their weight in some states. I find that disgusting. I think it's better if you have to do something like this at all to do it to the older generations. They have more self esteem and can develop a "fuck the man" attitude. Whereas doing it to children was jsut wrong.
um, to all the people out there who are saying that this kind of thing would NEVER happen in America are forgetting that it can and might happen...I mean, employers are allowed to question whether an employee smokes and then take steps to get that individual to quit smoking...again, probably to keep the health insurance down but if they have the right to do THAT...
Personally, I think it is invasive but potentially very beneficial. Sometimes obesity is due to psychological factors and it could be helpful to be seen by a therapist to determine whether the employee is eating as a means of coping with depression, in which case it renders the behavior a symptom of a mental illness and should be treated.
It's sad to see the workplace so big...Knowing all those young people will not have a quality of life (and sooner than they think) unless they lose the weight is heartbreaking.
OK, if this kind of law were enacted in America, I would do a happy dance. We need it.
I also feel like it's not so awful of a government to "control" its citizenry by trying to prevent them from getting type II diabetes. If anything, our government ought to be more proactive in getting people to lose weight.