Japan, Seeking Trim Waists, Measures Millions - Page 4

clintjm · (#31 (**permalink**))

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Originally Posted by MMM

I think you are placing too much emphasis on the workplace as the cause of obesity. In fact, I think it is probably the opposite.

Socio-economic status is factor. The less educated and poorer you are, the fatter you tend to be. The hardest workers and richest people are not the fattest. It is the uneducated. Look at the floor on Wall Street or the board room at a New York attorney's office (hard working people who tend to work the longest hours). Then go down to the unemployment office and look at the line. Where do you think you'll find the higher percentage of overweight people?

Very little argument here. The least expensive food (processed foods) on the shelf in American supermarkets are just junk. But they are labeled appropriately. And if you can read then you can learn how to read the nutrifacts.

Not just workplace, but the lifestyle of the American worker based on their environment. I don't know... I see quite a mix in New York having lived their myself. Urban city environments always differ than rural because of the amount of movement required in the city.

I will agree its not *just* occupational but also in combination on where you live and income level. Less educated... hmmm.. I'm going to disagree here. Falls back on ... didn't know that <insert junk meal> was good for you - I just can't go with that.

All good points here though.

clintjm · (#32 (**permalink**))

Quote:

Originally Posted by Kyousuke

you make a good point, but tall people were born that way and i havent heard anything about body builders sueing.
But most people know that some food can kill you but they continue to eat it, just like how smokers know cigarettes can kill them but continue to smoke. maybe it takes an outside source to get people to correct this. im not saying its right to take away peoples freedoms, but taking care of your body is a responsibility and should be treated right

hmmmm.... what kind of outside source?

clintjm · (#33 (**permalink**))

Quote:

Originally Posted by MMM

The average work week in the US is 46 hours a week. That is up from 50 years ago, but down from 50 hours a week in the 20s.

Scary thats just the average.

Quote:

Originally Posted by MMM

That "No vacation nation" article is talking about government mandated paid vacation days. That doesn't mean that businesses don't voluntarily give paid vacations in the US or that Japanese employees take all their paid vacations.

Of course. I don't see the difference. As I said, the Average Japanese gets more time off than the Average American.
The point is, according to the document that the average Japanese worker gets 8 guaranteed holidays (national holidays) and 10 guaranteed annual paid leave day.
Nothing is guaranteed in the US on average... Thus in the report America ZERO. I work for an company that has office in the America, Japan as well as other countries. The amount of national holidays guaranteed off in America is sad. Even the vacation time provided by the company can have a black out time, or just be foregone into cash at no choice to the employee. We should be as lucky as much as to get as much as parts of Europe get.

Quote:

Originally Posted by MMM

Even if you are not in a bicycle friendly part of the country that doesn't mean you can't walk, jog, join a gym, do push-ups, or any number of things. 20 minutes a day can do wonders to a body.

I will agree here too. An exercise routine is key. Most people just don't know how or how much to do... and that is why PE class or getting into some program is key when burining calories isn't part of your daily routine (aka commute). If your stressed out or get little rest though, exercise isn't happening and especially if you fall into the comfort food / stress relationship. So, yes I will agree that we should be responspible for our own diet, lifestyle to the extent we can control it, and thus, government should stay out of the picture as far as their role unless its to mandate more national holidays. America is overworked.

Kyousuke · (#34 (**permalink**))

Quote:

Originally Posted by clintjm

hmmmm.... what kind of outside source?

family member, co-worker, goverment or company rule, ,etc. just someone or something that will do what most people tend to ignore, like healthy living

Sinestra · (#35 (**permalink**))

I do think teaching children health habits young and leading by example is important for health. The good habit which prevent obesity should start sooner rather than later. I see people all the time who complain and say i really should lose weight or i should exercise more, they say this while chopping down a giant greasy factory of a burger and finish while washing it down with a coke or a venti extra whip chocolate frap from Starbucks. These people i dont take seriously and nature will take reap its ugly punishment on them in the form of diabetes, a stroke, heart problems ect ect. Despite what most will say image is important and when people see an overweight person they dont immdietaly think well that person but have a thyroid problem or is predisposed to being overweight (which im not sold on i dont care what science says)

Citizens should take pride in being healthy now some of us are built a bit differently and yes there will be some who are larger than others but not at the proportions i see everyday. Its laziness its not that hard to shed some pounds you dont have to go to the gym everyday you can do activties in your everyday life to help. Instead of driving to the park hey take a walk or ride a bike. There is nothing wrong with red meat in moderation but dont go whoofing down Mcdonalds (which i dont eat EVER) 4 times a week. If you are pressed for time there are other healthier alternatives to fast food. Also, mental health plays a roll in weight as well. If you are unhappy or stressed out not only will it lower your immune system but we tend to make poor choice while in this Emo state hence the snacking on unhealthy food and beverages. We all get depressed sometimes and everyone gets stressed out from time to time thats a natural part of life but we need to be more aware and train ourselves not to eat unhealthy foods when we are feeling down. If you have a beer belly well...........im not going to tell you to stop drinking beer but dont think your winning any marathons or with that gut your dragging around. If you cant walk up a flight of stairs without breathing hard you have a problem.

Having said all that do i think the Government should play a roll in curbing obesity Yes and No. No because i dont think the US nor the Japanese government should be going around the work place measuring your waist line. Not only is it an invasion of privacy but it could cause deep seeded resentment and cause more unhealthy behavior like bulimia nervosa or Anorexia. What if the person thinks their job depends on their appearance? not mention moral in the work place could fall. There are good ways and bad way about implementing change and i feel this is one of the bad ones.

However, the government should focus on not allowing such obesity to take hold and reduce it. Which means health and dietary information in schools like i said hook them on good habits while they are young or at least make an attempt. Now i know Japanese School lunches are significantly more healthier than US school lunches the US could learn a thing or two and i read an article that mentioned something like American looking at how other Educational systems function to improve it at home. I saw what my nephew ate for lunch in his Elementary school and trust me a week later he was carrying his lunch to school. Education is the key just like anything but the person also has to want to be healthy we can force people to do things more often than not it has the opposite effect. Its just like a smoker that smoker knows that smoking increases the chances of lung cancer but they continue to smoke anyway either out of habit or because they made the choice and dont care about the consequences.

I do things in moderation i take walks whenever possible and i run 3 times a week. I eat moderately healthy but every now and then i indulge myself but not everyday. I have a beer with some friends every now and then once again in moderation. Granted a person may say that im tall and thin because thats how im built but thats not the whole truth im sure if ate unhealthy all the time didnt exercise i could put on some lbs. I take care of myself but i damn well will not tell someone else how to live their life nor should the government to a certain extent. Look at the Feds have done with cigarettes they keep increasing the taxes on them so does the state. They cant force you to quit but they can make them so expensive you dont want to spend money on them anymore. Smoking is down by a significant margin in my state and the sounding ones.

Someone mentioned being rewarded for not being overweight and being punished if you are. I dont know how to answer that one but what pisses me off is that when i am not obese and in good health a couple of lazy obese people (the ones that could change if they wanted) make my medical insurance higher because they face health problems from their weight. One bad apple spoils the bunch.

Nyororin · (#36 (**permalink**))

Quote:

Originally Posted by clintjm

Of course. I don't see the difference. As I said, the Average Japanese gets more time off than the Average American.
The point is, according to the document that the average Japanese worker gets 8 guaranteed holidays (national holidays) and 10 guaranteed annual paid leave day.
Nothing is guaranteed in the US on average... Thus in the report America ZERO. I work for an company that has office in the America, Japan as well as other countries. The amount of national holidays guaranteed off in America is sad. Even the vacation time provided by the company can have a black out time, or just be foregone into cash at no choice to the employee. We should be as lucky as much as to get as much as parts of Europe get.

I`m incredibly curious what makes you think Japan is any different.
Do you REALLY think that people actually USE those national holidays or those paid days off? Excuse me while I take a break to laugh...
No one I know in the US works as much as pretty much everyone I know over here. We`re considered amazing and my husband in a cushy job because he actually usually gets to have Saturday AND Sunday off when things aren`t busy. Most companies don`t get Saturday off - or rather, they get it off but still go to work because you know, you want to keep that job. I`d say around half go in voluntarily (without pay) on Sunday too...
Take a national holiday off instead of coming in to work voluntarily that day? Be prepared to stay the night a couple days afterward to make up for the lost time. Saved up 40 or 50 days of paid leave days is completely normal. Save up too many and you might get an offer from your employer to get a few days with overtime pay to make it LOOK like you`ve used them so that they don`t get in trouble with the government.

Guaranteed in NO WAY means what you are thinking it does. The government SAYS you need to provide those days off - but reality says that almost no one uses them, or if they do they`ll have hell to pay afterward. Volunteer work, and "paper holidays" (overtime paid in exchange for filling out a form saying you used a sick day or holiday) do not show up on charts as days worked.

Columbine · (#37 (**permalink**))

I will throw in for my 2 penneths worth that skinny doesn't automatically mean healthy either. I don't mean 'underweight' by this, I mean ordinary skinny. I'm skinny but I can tell you right now I'm unhealthy because I don't exercise enough, and I can feel it in my body compared to when I did. I get tired more, I get more general aches and pains and upsets. Ok, so I'm not clinically ill or at death's door, but my dad, despite carrying a gut that would make him a stunt double for Father Christmas is probably healthier than me in some respects because of all the sport he does. He certainly has a healthier heart and lungs than my mum, who's dumpy and doesn't do any exercise at all.

Being thin is only half the battle towards being healthy; your cardio health is much less related to your lumps and bumps than people think and it's also more important, but for Japan, it's a hurdle they've already gone a way to cross. They have (or seem to have) much more sports in schools and businesses and walking/cycling is much more common. Even Japanese junk food is comparatively 'better' than american or european junk- Mr Donuts has smaller, less sugary donuts than anything i've ever come across.

clintjm · (#38 (**permalink**))

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