The country of Japan can be categorized as one of the most fitness conscious and healthy city. Taking a step further in making it more so, Japanese officials have taken a path breaking initiative. The government has launched a campaign to slim down the increasing waistlines of its citizenry to a standard measure.

The initiative has been flagged off in the city of Amagasaki in Japan and all citizens are summoned to line up for a waistline measurement. This initiative was planned after a local law, regulating the measurement of waistlines by companies and government of people above 40 and 74, came into effect. The government has set standard sizes for both male and female waistlines the male waist size limit being 33.5 inches while that for females being 35.4 inches which are the recommended sizes prescribed by the International Diabetes Federation. These sizes will help assess the health risk and will help the government counsel those above the stipulated size to reduce weight.

This, according to the Japanese government, will increase the mortality rate of a country always on a manpower crisis. To reach their goal of keeping the waist size of their population under control, the government will impose financial penalties on companies who fail to achieve the targets. This initiative, as the government claims, will keep the spread of diseases like stroke and diabetes in check along with reducing the health care costs. Critics however strongly ridicule the act by saying that such an initiative for a country like Japan is unnecessary where the entire population is almost fit and healthy.

Via: iht