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Are forced fitness regimes justified to cut down rising health care costs?
Made Popular Jun 13 2008
Japan wants to cut the flab. The country is taking extreme measures to restrict the waistlines to 33.5 inches for men and 35.4 inches for women. The government has undertaken one of the most ambitious campaigns forcing companies and local governments to measure the waistlines of people between the ages of 40 and 74, about 44 percent of the entire population, as part of their annual checkups. Those exceeding the limits will be given periodic dieting guidance. Financial penalties will be imposed on companies and local governments that fail to meet specific targets. The move is believed to curb spiraling medical costs.
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yes this is necessary. those who are unhealthy because of their bad eating or voracious habits need to be put off the benefits that state health care provides. these are the ppl who gobble the benefits that belong to others and because of these greedy eating ppl will line long in the hospitals. why others will pay for their bad habits.
(Local Perspectives)
yes it should have some proper planing for it and UK healthcare program by Gordon Brown propagated the same for the British people. It isn't free health care for everyone. Some of us pay/paid over the odds, and never use the darn NHS because we look after ourselves, and eat properly. Other's have never paid a dime into it, and have everything for nothing. It is about time it went private, and those who abuse their bodies pay higher premiums than those that look after ourselves. I am sick to death of providing for freeloaders.
(Global Perspectives)
This is a useless issue who will be sticking to it, I wonder. What i feel is I surround myself with beautiful ppl, not beautiful bodies. I value ppl for who they are without caring how they look like. When you value something as shallow as looks over honesty, integrity, and decency then you only lose honesty, integrity, and decency. After all, if you have no value, they won't notice your gone, right?
(Global Perspectives)
I am a person with a big Paunch and love to eat. Pork, mutton, beef, pizza... are my favorites... why others are bothered about my diet and me going fat. I pay for everything i eat. If i love to eat, it's my choice and i will face it the way it'll come. to be slim if is your choice, why to force it on the others. just stop this nonsense.
(Global Perspectives)
Yes, I can appreciate all of the arguments about the Government becoming too involved in one's life. they are thinking and taking some measure that are good for the people. When the popular cry becomes "They- meaning The Government- should do something about it", then one should not complain when "they" do. If you want "free" prescriptions then you should be ready to accept the changes that doctors might demand in your lifestyle or the withdrawal of treatment.
(Local Perspectives)
the Japanese govt. wants to deny me the right to treatment on the NHS because I am fat, then I demand the right to opt out of national insurance so I can shop around for a better deal. Taking my money but withholding the service is theft."
A better deal in doctors too. I put on weight following an accident, in which I was housebound and in agony for 6 months. I went to see my doctor he sighed that weight loss is very difficult with the damaged leg and I need not to bother about that. Is there some condition that will exempt me?
A better deal in doctors too. I put on weight following an accident, in which I was housebound and in agony for 6 months. I went to see my doctor he sighed that weight loss is very difficult with the damaged leg and I need not to bother about that. Is there some condition that will exempt me?
(Local Perspectives)
Rio,
Your is an exceptional case and a way should be there for those who gain weight because of being incapacitated for some reasons other than overeating
Your is an exceptional case and a way should be there for those who gain weight because of being incapacitated for some reasons other than overeating
(Global Perspectives)
Can somebody come up with the survey that says eating whale makes you obese...atleast that will spare the whales from killing in Japan...i think somebody should really come up with this...
(Global Perspectives)
I guess the Whale diet is to keep thin and enforcing waistline norms may increase the demand for Whale meat.
If so, then the waistlines limits should be expanded. At least it will help Whales to live.
If so, then the waistlines limits should be expanded. At least it will help Whales to live.
(Global Perspectives)
here some ppl are of the opinion that "Fat or thin, it is not the state's business". well this is incorrect and illogical to think. If the state is expected to look after the health needs from the time of conception to the grave, then the state has every right to dictate about maintaining our health. The contribution made by an individual towards health care is minuscule. If one wants a lavish lunch then he/she has to spend and then spend more to cure the ill effects of this rich lunch. There is nothing like a free lunch. In this instance, we should listen to the medical profession who advise the government about health and life style.
(Local Perspectives)
You make a valid point but enforcing eating norms do infringe upon basic individual rights.
(Global Perspectives)
So a "Free" health service available to all at point of......blah blah blah. The trouble with this government is that it doesn't know where to draw the line between individual responsibility and state bossiness.
Indeed governments do do things badly, and therefore we should only direct them to do those things that nobody else can do. Sadly such is not the way of this lot.
Indeed governments do do things badly, and therefore we should only direct them to do those things that nobody else can do. Sadly such is not the way of this lot.
(Global Perspectives)
Why pay out or care more each year for a service that fails on most measures of quality, unless you are at death's door the system fails. this becomes the battle between the individual choice and one dictated by the sate. Do we now boast to live and vote for a democratic Govt.
(Local Perspectives)
this doesn't make sense at all. I'm waiting to see when companies start firing fat people because they're a burden on the health care system and of course on the company's funds. what a proposal to make obese peoples' lives next to the living hell!
i think the better way would be to pay incentives to those who weigh exactly according to the norms set by Japanese Govt.
i think the better way would be to pay incentives to those who weigh exactly according to the norms set by Japanese Govt.
(Global Perspectives)
Incentive’s for good health and fitness does make sense.
(Global Perspectives)
huh! it seems that ppl who once become ministers start behaving that they could to best to help ppl out. How will the government telling people that they should (or shouldn't) do something make them any more or less likely to do it? Are we all directionless fools who need to be directed by patronizing ministers? Unless of course there is going to be compulsion.
(Global Perspectives)
Yup that’s correct. Those with the unhealthy lifestyle are depriving others with the health facilities who would have been benefited with those opportunities that they have grabbed otherwise. To avoid this we need to take some actions that someone may call as biased or whatever, but its necessary to make those unruly people realize that they have the utmost responsibility to be fit and fine and not adopting the lifestyle that will damage their health and can deprive others of health services.
(Global Perspectives)
Since earth’s resources are getting limited, there is a food and fuel crisis breaking out in many parts of the globe as well as health care costs are becoming prohibitive, the least one can do is ’eat to live and not live to eat’.
(Global Perspectives)
It’s kind of funny if you look at it from an Indian’s point of view. Atleast here we can choose our weights!
(Global Perspectives)
Choosing our weight is no big deal here in India because human life is so cheap that one need not even bother about providing it any health care at all.
(Global Perspectives)
Why not, after all we blame the government when it doesn’t take care of its citizens. If they want keep the citizens fit and healthy by enforcing them, they have all the right to do so. Ultimately, it’s the citizens who benefit from this.
(Global Perspectives)
Brejesh is callous. he want to lie on the hospital bed for months altogether for his stupid ways letting others to die in the in the waiting room, in a queue, out side the hospital.. but he will not leave his idea of "will'....