For the past several months, at all the conferences that I hold, I draw
attention to the emergence of new social norms with which we are required to
comply. One of them is the obligation of health: we have to do everything to
stay in good health at all times. We must feed ourselves properly, avoid
smoking, drink moderately (or even not at all): these resulting in campaigns on
nutrition, fights against tobacco, against alcohol. Non-compliance with this new standard not
only puts our health at stake, but endangers society as a whole: we then become
a financial burden on society.
The New York Times of 13th June 2008 vividly illustrates this issue.
A public law requires that all Japanese between the ages of 40 to 74,
(i.e., 44% of the population) submit to having their waistlines measured during
their annual medical check-ups. Men
whose waistlines exceed 85 cm 90
cm
Do not close our eyes to an example that may seem alien to some of us: we are heading straight towards it. Today the nutritional values of food - which yesterday were found on the back of the packaging – will be found on the front. The fight against obesity is presented as a national effort. Tomorrow, the stabilizing of social security accounts will lead us to nutritional rehabilitation centers.
