[Animats]

Japan seems to have fought this off. Japan has explicitly rejected "fat acceptance" as public policy. Under the 2008 "Metabo Law", everyone between 40 and 75 is weighed and measured annually and sent to counseling if overweight. Employers are involved and apply pressure to employees.

[candiodari]

> Employers are involved and apply pressure to employees.

That sounds like hell.

[hkmurakami]

Eh, it wasn't too bad tbh, and my employer was one of the most traditionally run in the country.

Mostly the company handing out free step counters to those who wanted it. There might have been some very modest financial incentives given out as well.

[r00fus]

Japanese corporate culture is already like this, so it's likely just another pressure like going out nights for team drinks, etc.

[adventured]

It is hell, for someone not used to it or someone over the fat line. Google "Japan fat shaming" for some idea of how abusive they are toward fat people culturally. They're not the only ones though, South Korea and China also have weaker variations of aggressive cultural fat shaming.

[bragh]

It always seemed that South Korea's attitude was harsher thanks to the manhwa (especially Lookism). But now that I think about it, Japanese manga do not even feature fat characters unless they are completely irredeemable social outcasts.

[binarray2000]

I'm curious: How is "fat shaming" applied to sumo wrestlers? They are probably big (no pun intended) stars in Japan.

[adventured]

As you would imagine with most nations and cultural extremes that benefit entertainment or celebrity, it's an exception. Being obese for the purpose of Sumo, is regarded as entirely different versus being obese because of poor discipline / lifestyle reasons.

[hellofunk]

If Japan does this, it is in reaction to what the influence of Western fast food did in the previous decades, to make this necessary.