[FoRK] The health fascists strike again...

[Joseph S. Barrera III]

Here is the original article:

http://www.bloomberg.com/apps/news?pid=20601109&sid=aTcgvBD7ty.0

Couple of corrections:

"The ministry estimates that half of men over age 40 and 20 percent of 
women will be diagnosed with metabolic syndrome. For men, a key 
yardstick is whether they have a waistline wider than 85 centimeters 
(33.5 inches). Body mass, cholesterol, blood pressure, blood sugar and 
smoking will also be taken into account."

(so waistline is not the only criterion, as claimed in the blog)

"Companies will be required to cut the number of overweight workers and 
dependents by 10 percent as of 2012 and 25 percent by 2015. Failing to 
do so will result in a surcharge of as much as 10 percent on 
contributions to a fund for elderly care. Insurance groups paid 6.4 
trillion yen into the fund in 2004."

(so that's 10% surcharge on medical contributions, not 10% of earnings!)

P.S. Guess what you'll never see: the ministry adding surcharges for 
excess drinking... not unless things change a LOT.

- Joe