In Japan There’s a Law Against Obesity, and You Can Even Risk a Fine

Japan is one of the countries that has always been at the forefront of imposing itself strongly with a strict nutritional education. It is called shokuiku and it is a subject taught from childhood in schools that serves to protect health and avoid risks such as obesity. This is a medical condition characterized by the excessive accumulation of body fat that can lead to very serious health problems. Usually in the rest of the world everyone is free to do what they want but, right in the land of the Rising Sun, there is a law that would involve a fine for those who exceed the kilos. A law that seems decidedly excessive to us.

Is Being Obese Illegal?

It is true that by law you should be at your ideal weight, otherwise you risk very high fines. In Japan, in fact, the law (issued in 2008) requires companies to measure the waistline of employees between the ages of 40 and 74: if the circumference exceeds the standards imposed by the government, they are given a strict diet to follow meticulously and the company risks a fine. A law that is not imposed for an aesthetic obsession but for clear economic reasons. Obesity is a serious metabolic disease and weighs on public health.

Educating children on proper nutrition is essential according to the Japanese government. In fact, the little ones are warned about the risks they can run into by following poorly regulated and excessive eating habits. The diets of Japanese men and women who fall within that age group and who have company work contracts are constantly monitored because the risk of having to pay the State a very hefty fine exists.

To "compulsorily" return to a healthy weight, the worker has about three months to regularize his diet and return to a better weight. If he can't do it on his own, he will be forced to undergo very expensive therapy sessions and, if this method also fails, then the company that hired the worker will have to pay a very hefty fine.

Why This Law is Unjust and Harmful

While the goal of promoting public health is laudable, a law that fines overweight people risks being ineffective, unfair, and potentially harmful. A more constructive approach would focus on prevention, education, support, and creating an environment that fosters healthy lifestyle choices for all.

A fine focuses on punishing an individual for a complex condition, rather than offering support and resources to help them improve their health. Being overweight is often the result of a combination of factors, including genetics, metabolism, medical conditions, stress, socio-economic factors and access to healthy food: fining a person does not help address these root causes and "legalizes" an action that for us is discriminatory in all respects.

Such a law risks blaming victims and ignoring the systemic barriers that can contribute to overweight: a more effective approach would be to invest in public policies that promote health at the community level. A supportive and understanding environment is more likely to encourage positive changes in behavior: health is a right and public policies should aim to reduce health inequalities, not increase them through punitive measures.