Obesity's death toll could be higher than believed, study says

If we're talking about insurance, shouldn't weight be factored in to premiums?

In the vast majority of cases, weight is something that we can control. The health issues -- and costs -- associated with being over weight are profound.

How should we deal with this?

 

And businesses will require each employee to weigh in every week first thing Monday morning. And the workers must come in 15 minutes early and not clock in, either. Can't spend work time being weighed, after all.

 

If you want to transfer the costs of healthcare from the individual to the employer or government, shouldn't there be some expectation that the responsibility to maintain one's health, and the contain the cost, would also be transferred away from the individual?

 

The Miracle of the Marketplace of course will solve all problems.

 

Yeah, but that's not an answer.

We talk a lot about preventative medicine. But, we know how to reduce health care costs: maintain a healthy weight; don't smoke, drink, or use drugs; exercise; etc.

If society is going to bear the costs, don't we have the right to ask folks to take better care of themselves -- or pay more?

 

There are people who can carry it. I have a co-worker who is 6-4, 330 and while he's certainly not skinny, if someone told you he weighed 250, you'd believe them. If you had 10 people describe how he's built, none of them would use the word fat.

 

Under the "You're On Your Own, Jack" philosophy, of course.

Of course, under that guiding precept the entire concept of insurance is an abomination; everybody should pay out of their own pocket for their own medical costs.

 

I don't have a problem with "fat people" paying more for health insurance than skinny people, but that better be based on fat percentage and not some idiotic BMI calculator.

 

Is it demonizing, or a reflection of reality?

Smokers and the overweight are associated with higher healthcare costs.

Diabetes, high blood pressure, joint problems are all associated with being overweight. And, we're spending huge amounts of money to treat the symptoms, as opposed to dealing with the underlying issue.

 

When fatties are outlawed, only outlaws will have fatties.

 

Once again, the fat 50-year-old guy who sheds 50 pounds in nine months is as much a risk for a major cardiac event as the fat smoker.

 

99 percent of all doctors will tell you you are full of shit.