I thought this was interesting..

Government law in Japan requires some companies to actually measure men and women's waist, and if they fall above the pre-determined unhealthy measurement, they are given dieting guidance to lose weight!

So, what is the government limits for waist measurements?
- 33.5 inches for men
- 35.4 inches for women

According to the article, http://well.blogs.nytimes.com/2008/06/13..., "...The Journal of Clinical Epidemiology showed that body mass index is the "poorest" indicator of cardiovascular health, and that waist size is a much better way to determine, for both sexes, who is at a higher risk for hypertension, diabetes and elevated cholesterol."

The International Journal of Obesity said that the weight-height ratio may be even better at determining health risks, which is your waist should be less than half your height.

What do you think? How do you measure up? Is this simplifying complicated issues, including health risk and health status?