I think Richard Simmons came to power. (http://www.nytimes.com/2008/06/13/world/asia/13fat.html?_r=1&no_interstitial&oref=slogin)
If the Japanese really are using medication to lose weight if they are over the limit, then I'm not really impressed. If they're limiting their food consumption, however, then that's quite a leap. But as the article says, there are people who probably need to be measured more than they do.