An obligatory checkup, begun in April and aimed at reducing metabolic syndrome, will cover 57 million people aged 40-74 who participate in public health insurance plans. The health ministry hopes the checkup will lead people to healthier lifestyles and eventually contribute to fewer people with lifestyle-related illnesses such as diabetes, cardiac infarction and cerebrovascular disorders.

In the checkup, belly circumference, blood pressure, and sugar and lipid levels in the blood are measured. If a person's belly circumference exceeds a certain figure (85 cm for men and 90 cm for women), and any two of the three other measurements exceed reference values, the person will be classified as having metabolic syndrome and receive health and lifestyle guidance.

If the number of people receiving the checkup is small, the health insurance plan in question may be punished. It may have to pay more "support money" to help finance the medical treatment of people aged 75 or over.