Obesity a crushing weight on U.S. health care (OMG!!!! what a surprise!!!!)

[Trumplestiltskin 5,791]

I should have pointed the finger at Elmo too. He ought to be hanged from a tree in front of a jeering mob (of fat people) and pelted with donuts.

Edited August 18, 2009 by Private Pike

[Dakine 26]

FYI ! The Island we live on doesn't have ANY fast food places and I's say there's over 75% obesity here.

I blame a lot on the government and the welfare sytem.

Or the more reasonable response- fatty food in a modern, sedentary era where food is more easily obtained... What is the typical, historical diet of the island where you live?

It used to be fish and poi but now spam and rice!

[HAL 9000 96]

FYI ! The Island we live on doesn't have ANY fast food places and I's say there's over 75% obesity here.

I blame a lot on the government and the welfare sytem.

Or the more reasonable response- fatty food in a modern, sedentary era where food is more easily obtained... What is the typical, historical diet of the island where you live?

It used to be fish and poi but now spam and rice!

Fatty food in a modern, sedentary era.

[trailmix 77]

$147 billion - Obesity-related medical spending in the U.S. in 2008

Why does no one ever discuss the cost of Alcohol related medical spending? Why - because a lot of people like to drink. I mean personally I don't give a damn - but people always post things that don't relate to them - you cannot blame one particular group for the astronomical cost of medical care in the U.S.

Annual health care expenditures for alcohol-related problems amount to $22.5 billion. The total cost of alcohol problems is $175.9 billion a year (compared to $114.2 billion for other drug problems and $137 billion for smoking) link

[Danno 1,228]

$147 billion - Obesity-related medical spending in the U.S. in 2008

Why does no one ever discuss the cost of Alcohol related medical spending? Why - because a lot of people like to drink. I mean personally I don't give a damn - but people always post things that don't relate to them - you cannot blame one particular group for the astronomical cost of medical care in the U.S.

Annual health care expenditures for alcohol-related problems amount to $22.5 billion. The total cost of alcohol problems is $175.9 billion a year (compared to $114.2 billion for other drug problems and $137 billion for smoking) link

This is a truth I have mentioned before as I have seen way more loss of life and harm inflicted on others from Alcohol.

...... but people are still stuck on Evil tobacco but as this group is drying up the programing has already begun to move the herd over to select food items to tax and vilify.

[Chica Yeyé 41]

$147 billion - Obesity-related medical spending in the U.S. in 2008

Why does no one ever discuss the cost of Alcohol related medical spending? Why - because a lot of people like to drink. I mean personally I don't give a damn - but people always post things that don't relate to them - you cannot blame one particular group for the astronomical cost of medical care in the U.S.

Annual health care expenditures for alcohol-related problems amount to $22.5 billion. The total cost of alcohol problems is $175.9 billion a year (compared to $114.2 billion for other drug problems and $137 billion for smoking) link

This is a truth I have mentioned before as I have seen way more loss of life and harm inflicted on others from Alcohol.

...... but people are still stuck on Evil tobacco but as this group is drying up the programing has already begun to move the herd over to select food items to tax and vilify.

Oh s1t... am I actually agreeing with Danno on something????

I also agree with trailmix; the cost of alcohol abuse and drug addiction is rarely mentioned; while the evil smokers well.... y'all know my ranting on the topic.

[trailmix 77]

$147 billion - Obesity-related medical spending in the U.S. in 2008

Why does no one ever discuss the cost of Alcohol related medical spending? Why - because a lot of people like to drink. I mean personally I don't give a damn - but people always post things that don't relate to them - you cannot blame one particular group for the astronomical cost of medical care in the U.S.

Annual health care expenditures for alcohol-related problems amount to $22.5 billion. The total cost of alcohol problems is $175.9 billion a year (compared to $114.2 billion for other drug problems and $137 billion for smoking) link

This is a truth I have mentioned before as I have seen way more loss of life and harm inflicted on others from Alcohol.

...... but people are still stuck on Evil tobacco but as this group is drying up the programing has already begun to move the herd over to select food items to tax and vilify.

Exactly

Edited August 18, 2009 by trailmix

[Chica Yeyé 41]

I should have pointed the finger at Elmo too. He ought to be hanged from a tree in front of a jeering mob (of fat people) and pelted with donuts.

Elmo should be hanged and shot. Just for being an annoying little twit.

[Peikko 1,575]

Of course, you don't expect people to exhibit saintly behaviour do you?

On a more serious note, there are a few activities that people indulge in to excess that 'can' have a detrimental effect on their health. The problem is that the cause and effect are both a long time in occurring and dependent on other factors, like genetic predisposition etc. Therefore, while it is true that these behaviours on the national scale do have an enourmous and profoundly negative impact on health care costs, it's not possible to simply say that these behaviours by the individual will have a negative impact.

The best that can be hoped for, is for there to be sufficient reliable information available so that everyone is to be able to make the best choices for their own health. It would also be helpful if incentives were built into the health service system for people to make healthier choices as well as help to achieve these goals.

The fact is though, that if any 'incentives' are available at all in the insurance based system they are both inadequate and punitive in nature as apposed to encouraging.

Personal responsibility is one thing and rightly in a free society the individual must face up to the consequences of their own actions, but there is absolutely nothing wrong with providing incentives to guide people towards healthier choices if one actually wants to achieve a sustainable and healthy population.

[Ban Hammer 13,870]

I also agree with trailmix; the cost of alcohol abuse and drug addiction is rarely mentioned; while the evil smokers well.... y'all know my ranting on the topic.

light one up for the kids! they need healthcare!

[Chica Yeyé 41]

I also agree with trailmix; the cost of alcohol abuse and drug addiction is rarely mentioned; while the evil smokers well.... y'all know my ranting on the topic.

light one up for the kids! they need healthcare!

I'm on it!