News On Japan

Japan Obesity Society Warns Against Women's Desire To Be Thin

TOKYO, Apr 17 (News On Japan) - The Japan Society for the Study of Obesity has issued a warning about the health risks of excessive thinness and poor nutrition among women, positioning what it calls 'women's underweight and malnutrition syndrome' as a newly recognized health condition.

In Japan, one in five women in their twenties is considered underweight, with a body mass index (BMI) below 18.5—a figure notably high among developed nations.

The group pointed out that being excessively thin and lacking proper nutrition can lead to health issues such as lower bone density, irregular menstrual cycles, infertility, and potential impacts on the health of future children.

To address the issue, the society held a press conference on April 17th to announce the formation of a new working group aimed at officially designating this as a new syndrome. The group will work to establish diagnostic criteria and treatment methods through further research.

The society noted several factors behind the prevalence of thinness among women in Japan. These include the influence of social media and fashion magazines, which often promote the idea that "thin is beautiful," particularly among younger women. It also cited socioeconomic factors such as poverty, which may limit access to sufficient nutrition.

The group warned that prolonged extreme dieting and unbalanced eating habits can easily lead to health problems, calling for public awareness of the dangers posed by an excessive desire to be thin.

Website: https://www.jasso.or.jp/

Source: TBS

News On Japan
POPULAR NEWS

Four years ago, a Sri Lankan woman named Wishma died after repeatedly complaining of illness while detained at a Nagoya immigration facility. The government has admitted to possessing 295 hours of video footage documenting her condition leading up to her death—but has only disclosed five hours of it to the bereaved family.

The Tokyo Metropolitan Government has decided to waive basic water charges for all ordinary households in the city this summer, covering approximately 8 million households.

Following a wave of disturbing cases in which women were emotionally manipulated into debt and coerced into prostitution through exploitative tactics used by hosts, the revised Entertainment Business Act aimed at cracking down on abusive host club practices passed Japan's Lower House on Tuesday.

A 15-year-old junior high school student arrested for fatally stabbing an 84-year-old woman on a street in Chiba City was found to have purchased 'monkshood' seeds of the highly toxic plant aconite before the incident, according to police.

A 70-year-old man fell from a high-rise apartment building in Osaka and struck a cyclist on the sidewalk below, resulting in the deaths of both men.

MEDIA CHANNELS
         

MORE Politics NEWS

Although the government released 210,000 tons of reserve rice into the market, only about 10 percent has reached supermarkets and restaurants, equivalent to the nation’s average daily rice consumption.

Agriculture Minister Taketaka Eto of the ruling Liberal Democratic Party stated during a speech in Saga City on May 18th that he has never purchased rice, explaining, "I receive a lot from supporters—enough that I could practically sell it. That's how much is in my household pantry."

A peace march calling for the reduction of the burden caused by U.S. military bases was held in Okinawa on May 17th, marking 53 years since the prefecture's reversion to Japan.

The government approved a long-awaited pension reform bill in a cabinet meeting on May 16th, aiming to eliminate the so-called "1.06 million yen barrier" that has prevented many part-time workers from enrolling in the welfare pension system.

Japan has launched its new "security clearance" system, which restricts access to sensitive economic security information to individuals deemed suitable through a national screening process. The program, which began operation on May 15th, is intended to enhance international collaboration by aligning Japan’s information handling standards with those of key allies.

The Japanese government has set a new wage policy target aimed at achieving a real wage increase of around 1% by fiscal 2029, taking inflation into account. To support this goal, it plans to mobilize public and private investment totaling approximately 60 trillion yen over the next five years to boost corporate productivity.

A growing number of Chinese tourists in Japan are converting their foreign driver's licenses into Japanese ones by listing their hotel addresses as proof of residence, drawing criticism and prompting a policy shift from authorities.

Hyogo Governor Motohiko Saito and senior prefectural officials have participated in an anti-power harassment training session aimed at fostering a more open and communicative workplace environment.