Wisconsin Obesity. Who Cares? You Do.

The latest report from theTrust for America's Health (TFAH) and the Robert Wood Johnson Foundation (RWJF) on obesity shows Wisconsin has the 25th highest rate of adult obesity in the nation, at 26.0 percent and the 12th lowest of overweight youths (ages 10-17) at 27.9 percent.

That prompted one Boop to comment, "This is still a free country (I think). People are still responsible for their own choices of food and beverages they consume."

Yes it is a free country but your neighbors' dietary habits have a major impact on your pocketbook. Even if you have little regard for their health, disease and disability associated with obesity is a cost you share, whether it is lost productivity, increases in the cost of health care or tending to orphaned kids you pay.

It reminds me of the motorcycle helmet debate - a rider should be free to ride helmetless and become a vegetable. And then when the insurance runs out after hundreds of thousands of dollars in surgeries, we contnue to pay for the expensive life time of nursing care.

Comments

[JDC]

Actually, the epidemiology linking weight and health is, you should pardon the expression, thin. The link between mustaches and ill informed opinions (http://topics.nytimes.com/top/opinion/editorialsandoped/oped/columnists/thomaslfriedman/index.html) is far stronger.

[Jon]

I agree that everyone is, and should be, free to make their own food choices. However, we vote for people who determine where our tax dollars go. And continuing to subsidize high fructose corn syrup and other unhealthy food through our tax system is just plain nuts.

[The Sconz]

What would be the anti-obesity equivalence of the helmet law? Putting warnings on food with high levels of high fructose corn syrup etc would be a good start. The amount of food that passes as "healthy" but should, for lack of a better term, be labeled "unhealthy" is a scandal that will hit this country in the next couple of decades.

[antpoppa]

Don't worry ...Be happy!
http://www.naturalnews.com/026503_pandemic_swine_flu_bioterrorism.html

[purplepenquin]

The War on Drugs has already established a precedent for laws that ban/control what people are allowed to eat/drink/ingest. If the gov't can punish you up for smoking an all-natural herb then it stands to reason they can punish you for eating a double-cheesburger.

Is it now time for a War on Obesity?

[R.J.]

NOW you appeal to our pocket books?
Sometimes $9 hummus from Whole Foods doesn't fill the bill for me.
Besides, who's going to pay for health care as we all make it deep into our 90's?

[scott]

Just wondering... is there any statistical evidence to say that not wearing a helmet costs society money? Btw, i think the pt is somewhat irrelevant from a constitutional perspective, but nonetheless i'm curious to know. It is an oft repeated claim, but i wonder if it actually holds water. My thinking goes like this: in many motorcycle accidents (e.g., those at highway speeds), without a helmet, you are toast. You will not live to a ripe age. You will not draw your ss, medicare, etc. Your death might be messy, but your health care costs were low. On the other hand, had you been wearing a helmet, you might have survived, but you may be permanently disabled, unable to work, and require lots of health care for lots of years. From a strictly economic view, the helmetless guy cost us less. Of course there are examples that show the opposite, but do they balance each other out? Is there any evidence either way?

Statistics aside, please wear a helmet; not for me or for society, but for yourself and those who care about you.

And on the food thing, i'm in favor of the carrot. Encourage healthy eating and healthy living through social and educational programs.
cheers!
scott.

[xjm]

"Sometimes $9 hummus from Whole Foods doesn't fill the bill for me."

Dude... make your own hummus. It takes like 3 minutes and costs like a buck for twice as much as you get at the store.

1. Rinse garbanzo beans. Dump in food processor.
2. Splash a tablespoon or so each of lemon juice and olive oil.
3. Add garlic, tahini, salt, and pepper to taste.
4. Whir.
5. Add water by the tablespoon to get the desired consistency.
6. Whir.