Shrinking waistlines, a third of the population considered underweight, and new laws that enforce a skinny lifestyle. Has Japan gone too far in its fight against obesity, and is America next? I’m Kimberly Walleston, with an international healthcare focus for Insider’s Health News. Health ministries in Tokyo are facing a difficult problem that is nothing like the one we have in America. After putting in laws associated with weight loss in the last year, it’s now coming to light that 29 percent of Japanese women in their 20s are underweight. What’s worse- many have said that they are unhappy if they weigh over 100 pounds… no matter their height. Unfortunately, this quest for a rail-thin body is causing a huge spike in eating disorders across the country. Also, because of a widespread cultural conception that muscles only look good on men, young girls are trying to get skinny through skipping meals and not eating altogether. It’s even prompted multiple public safety videos, hoping the perception can change for these women. If you were wondering about the other half, men actually seem to be going more with the American way. Nearly forty percent of middle-aged men are considered overweight, prompting laws that allow for a standard number of inches in your waistline. Companies and local governments are requiring every man to be under 33.5 inches and every woman to be less than 35.4 inches, or they are asked to undergo counseling. After that? You get a government fine if you can’t weight in where you should. So what is the likelihood of that happening in the states? It’s clear that a culture obsessed with weight loss can have just as many problems as a culture that seems to disregard what we do to our bodies. In the comments below, let us know if you would be all for a government mandated cutoff to help those in the most need, or if that would be eliminating one of our main human rights. At the very least, it’s clear that the US isn’t the only country dealing with health issues. We here at Insider’s Health News will keep stressing that a natural and healthy lifestyle can make all of those ups and downs a lot less extreme. Because maybe the solution to this and so many of our problems… is moderation. That’s it for this edition of Insider’s Health TV. I’m your host, Kimberly Walleston. And remembe t’s your health. We’re just helping you think outside the box.