Russia reportedly is taking a look at a fat fine on “large waistlines.”
According to The Moscow Times, Russia’s health and consumer rights watchdog considered drawing on Japan’s experience in the fight against obesity, including fining citizens for large waistlines.
Japan made it illegal in 2008 for citizens between 40 and 74 years old to exceed the state-prescribed limit for waistlines, the New York Times reported.
“We’ve studied the experience of countries with the highest life expectancy very carefully,” health and consumer watchdog chief Ann Popova told the state-run RIA Novosti news agency on Thursday, pointing out Tokyo's experience with what was dubbed as the “Metabo-law.”
"The applicability [of the practice] to Russia and Russian citizens is a question that will be discussed over our first year of work on the national goals," she said, adding that studies underway would help reach a conclusion.
Authorities quickly denied a fine was being considered.
"It was just an example of how it's done in other countries," an unnamed spokesperson of the health and consumer watchdog said of Popova’s comments. "No fines are being considered, of course. We're just studying practices from abroad."
Russia is on a drive to reduce obesity and improve nutrition as part of President Vladimir Putin’s national goals, The Moscow Times reported.
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