OK, I’ve got a dog in this fight.
ObamaCare goes after old folks.
Why not go after the horizontally challenged?
Hmmmm …
* * * * *
According to the Wall Street Journal:
The prevalence of obesity rose 37% between 1998 and 2006.
Obese people spent 42% more than people of normal weight on medical costs in 2006.
* * * * *
According to the National Bureau of Economic Research, the percentage of male citizens who are clinically rated as obese,
Japan 2.8%
France 9.8 %
Germany 14.4%
Canada 17.0%
U.K. 22.7%
U.S. 31.1%
Percentages are similar for females.
Source post:
http://gregmankiw.blogspot.com/
* * * * *
According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention:
Overall, about 26 percent of U.S. adults are obese, including …
39% of black women
36% of black Americans
29% of Hispanics
24% of whites
Source article:
http://www.newser.com/article/d99frjv01/state-by-state-obesity-statistics-show-blacks-have-the-largest-waistlines.html
For the full study (worth browsing):
http://www.cdc.gov/nchs/data/databriefs/db01.pdf
* * * * *
Draw your own conclusion
* * * * *
The Homa Files 
August 6, 2009 at 12:53 pm |
Congratulations! You’ve been flagged and reported to the White House Communications Office Task Force for Fishy and un-Obamacan Health Care Related Activity.
Your non-approval has been noted and your dissent will be taken into consideration at the highest levels of the adminstrarion. We will also inform your Senators and Representative so they can be prepared in the event you choose attend a local town hall meeting. No further action of any kind is required on you part.
Have a hopeful day!
August 7, 2009 at 12:34 am |
Perhaps obesity and shorter life expectancy is the solution to our long term social security entitlement and federal solvency dilemma.
Here’s some data from the CDC which suggests that the obesity problem may have hit a plateau.
Click to access db01.pdf
Blame big businesses like McDonald’s for creating increasingly irresistible supersized meals and Starbucks for offering delicious high calorie drinks.
October 15, 2009 at 7:55 am |
[…] Should fat people pay more for health insurance? By kenhoma I received several “you’re heartless” comments when I suggested that healthcare should be rationed to fat people (instead of rationing it to old people). https://kenhoma.wordpress.com/2009/08/06/instead-of-old-people-how-about-rationing-care-to-fat-people… […]
November 1, 2009 at 3:53 pm |
This post bothered me when I first read it, but not because I think you’re heartless. So, when I came across this article in the WSJ today, it brought your post back to me.
http://online.wsj.com/article/SB125702881246120983.html?mod=WSJ_hps_LEADNewsCollection
I am more in favor of taxing junk food than charging obese people more for health care because I think that this would actually make the problem worse. I think there are a couple of issues here:
1 – Of all of the statistics you reported, I think you left out a very important one: the percentage of obese people who are also poor – I believe the two are highly correlated – http://www.medicalnewstoday.com/articles/96634.php
2 – Therefore, charging higher rates for health insurance or premiums would only serve to exacerbate the problem
3 – Whereas, if fresh fruit and vegetables were and more accessible than cheaper than cheeseburgers and sodas, people would be incentivized financially to make healthier choices for themselves and their families.
December 14, 2009 at 1:24 am |
Instead of rationing healthcare why not just ration food? This way you kill obesity, save food, save money and (now that you don’t have all the obesity) will also save on healthcare!