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🇺🇸 United States /Health & Science

In Japan, life lessons in healthy eating

From CBS News · () English

Summarized and contextualized by DistantNews.

At a glance

In-depth Sources not specified Context piece
  • Japan has a significantly lower obesity rate than the United States, with only one-tenth the adult obesity rate.
  • Japanese people tend to move more in daily life, averaging at least 10,000 steps a day, partly due to less car ownership in Tokyo.
  • Companies like Tanita Corporation in Japan actively promote employee fitness, including mandatory weigh-ins and step tracking, with health insurance payments tied to employee health metrics.

In stark contrast to the United States, where approximately 40 percent of adults are considered obese, Japan boasts an obesity rate that is merely one-tenth of that figure. While heavy individuals are not entirely absent in Japan, they are far less common than in America, and surprisingly, few Japanese people frequent gyms.

That weight loss came from eating better and walking every day.

— Ito TakeshiAn employee at Tanita Corporation explains the source of his significant weight loss.

The key difference lies in everyday activity levels. In Tokyo, where car ownership is less prevalent, residents average at least 10,000 steps daily. This active lifestyle continues into the workplace. At Tokyo's Tanita Corporation, a company that manufactures scales, personal fitness is a core value. Even routine business meetings can incorporate opportunities to increase step counts.

Tanita employees like Ito Takeshi are required to use the company's scales at least once a month, fostering a unique level of accountability. Takeshi credits his 15-kilogram (35-pound) weight loss to improved eating habits and daily walking since joining Tanita. CEO Senri Tanida notes that in Japan, sharing personal health data like weight or step count is not typically met with the same reluctance seen in the U.S., making such initiatives easier to implement.

In Japan, sharing your weight or the number of steps you've taken isn't something that people necessarily want to hide. So, the hurdles to getting the Japanese to agree are pretty, pretty low.

— Senri TanidaThe CEO of Tanita Corporation discusses the cultural differences in sharing personal health data.

For employees over 40 at Tanita, mandatory weigh-ins and measurements are linked to national health insurance payments, which increase if these metrics are not monitored. The company ID badges even track daily steps and flag employees who haven't used the scale in a month, potentially locking them out of the building. This rigorous approach is complemented by traditional Japanese dietary habits, such as the emphasis on rice, miso soup, and pickled vegetables, known for their gut-health benefits. Even with the increasing popularity of fast food and Western fare, the Japanese practice of "hara hachi bu," eating until only 80 percent full, helps maintain healthier portion control. Furthermore, educational initiatives at schools like Shikahamamirai Elementary aim to instill healthy eating habits from a young age.

It's through this simplicity and accessibility that we're all able to remain healthy.

— Yoshiharu DoiA legendary Japanese culinary expert describes the benefits of traditional Japanese meals.
DistantNews Editorial

Originally published by CBS News. Summarized and contextualized by our editorial team with added local perspective. Read our editorial standards.

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