Obesity - Metabolic Syndrome and HR

Obesity ! What HR has to do with it . looks like a natural Question.

But in the Country like Japan , where salary-man spends most of his time in office - is closely linked , at least Authorities think so. So For employees ( And there dependents too ) measuring the waist-line is mandatory. This is an attempt to promote more healthy living as well as to keep tab on rising health care costs.

All employees above 40 will take this test. The number is estimated above 56 Million employees . Health ministry says 13 million suffer from Metabolic syndrome and further 14 million are at risk.

Tab is - firm has to cut number of overweight worker by 10% by 2012 , else they will face surcharge for elderly health care costs.

Personally most will support initiative , (And recent research like one in this link on BBC also underlines impact of waist-line on health. ). But it will be interesting to see how firms will respond to these regulations in coming days.