What would you say if your doctor made waist measurement mandatory at your next medical physical? Then, if you had enough belly fat to see your waistline exceed the state mandated 33.5 inches, you were force fed information on healthy eating and weight loss?

Would you feel that was an infringement on your private right to run your own life or would you be thankful that your doctor is letting you know before you get too far overweight and actually works with you to help you understand how to tackle your weight problem early?

Japan has just come out with government standards aimed at fat burning that demands people aged 40 to 74 have their waist size taken and recorded…those that exceed government guidelines will be given 3-months to lose the weight after which they get extra guidance for a further 6-months followed by more guidance if their fat burning is not successful in bringing them below the guidelines.

States and private companies are responsible for taking the waist measurements which has come under some criticism as a method of the Japanese government offloading the cost of enforcing these weight loss guidelines onto private organizations.

Is this really a good idea?

Oddly enough, it may be a better idea for us here in North America where the average waist size exceeds the Japanese by several inches and where disease and health care costs associated with obesity and being overweight could certainly justify more rigorous attention being paid to fat burning programs.

In North America we have done a good job tackling the issue of smoking along with its impact on the health care system, is fat burning the next big area governments will focus in our bid to become a healthier, less costly society?

I for one look forward to the day when such a program exists…while they’re at it, why not begin to regulate and cover other legitimate forms of alternative health care that can go a long way to preventing disease, lowering stress, achieve lower levels of belly fat and improve the health of our society.