Thread: Overweight Americans

Why are soo many Americans soo very over weight, compared to say..Canadians?

When I was in Canada, I saw very vew fat people...if any. In fact I can't remember more than maybe 3.

And yet, as soon as I drove into Washington State, BMI seemed to triple.

What's up with us? Is it something special we are eating? Have we become a country of lazy sloths?

What's the solution to this problem?

I think the first thing we should do, is increase the health insurance premiums for fat people..and reduce them for thin people.

Yeah, except that kind of ignores the fact that skinny doesn't always equate to healthy. As a whole, overweight people tend to have higher risks and more health problems, but there are exceptions.

I am above the "ideal" weight for my height and age, but my LDL and HDL levels are perfect, my blood pressure is slightly lower than the norm, my lung capacity is great (even considering my asthma), and the rest of my systems function normally.

On the other hand, my 5'11", 150lb male cousin has high bad cholesterol and high blood pressure, and he's also got some kidney issues.

So why should my insurance be higher than his, when we likely have the same (or similar) risk of high healthcare burdens in the future? Just because he's skinnier than me based on height/age?

Originally Posted by tessaesque

...On the other hand, my 5'11", 150lb male cousin has high bad cholesterol and high blood pressure, and he's also got some kidney issues.

So why should my insurance be higher than his, when we likely have the same (or similar) risk of high healthcare burdens in the future? Just because he's skinnier than me based on height/age?

people who consciously & willingly engage in constant behavior that they KNOW threatens their health and leads to higher healthcare costs, should pay higher healthcare premiums.

folks who work hard to maintain a healthy lifestyle..should be rewarded for their achievement.

its called fairness, rewarding good behavior, and penalizing poor behavior that makes you and others suffer.

Originally Posted by Thunder

Why are soo many Americans soo very over weight, compared to say..Canadians?

When I was in Canada, I saw very vew fat people...if any. In fact I can't remember more than maybe 3.

And yet, as soon as I drove into Washington State, BMI seemed to triple.

What's up with us? Is it something special we are eating? Have we become a country of lazy sloths?

What's the solution to this problem?

I think the first thing we should do, is increase the health insurance premiums for fat people..and reduce them for thin people.

Have you checked out the average work week for most Americans? We work on average more than any country in the industrialized world. If that's a job where you aren't active it doesn't leave much time for exercise.

Also keep in mind that the obeisity is prevelant in individuals with lower incomes as well.

Originally Posted by tessaesque

Yeah, except that kind of ignores the fact that skinny doesn't always equate to healthy. As a whole, overweight people tend to have higher risks and more health problems, but there are exceptions.

I am above the "ideal" weight for my height and age, but my LDL and HDL levels are perfect, my blood pressure is slightly lower than the norm, my lung capacity is great (even considering my asthma), and the rest of my systems function normally.

On the other hand, my 5'11", 150lb male cousin has high bad cholesterol and high blood pressure, and he's also got some kidney issues.

So why should my insurance be higher than his, when we likely have the same (or similar) risk of high healthcare burdens in the future? Just because he's skinnier than me based on height/age?

Yeah...I don't think insurance should be based on BMI or weight. I would like to point out though...men by default are at larger risk for things like high blood pressure, cholesterol etc.

Originally Posted by iliveonramen

Have you checked out the average work week for most Americans? We work on average more than any country in the industrialized world. If that's a job where you aren't active it doesn't leave much time for exercise.

Also keep in mind that the obeisity is prevelant in individuals with lower incomes as well.

it doesn't cost a penny to walk around the block at a steady pace, for 30 minutes every two days.

it doesn't a dime to reduce your meal portions.

no one if forced to be fat.

Originally Posted by Thunder

people who consciously & willingly engage in constant behavior that they KNOW threatens their health and leads to higher healthcare costs, should pay higher healthcare premiums.

folks who work hard to maintain a healthy lifestyle..should be rewarded for their achievement.

its called fairness, rewarding good behavior, and penalizing poor behavior that makes you and others suffer.

But you're making a lot of assumptions about my lifestyle, aren't you? Do you know how often I exercise, or what I eat? Do you know whether I smoke, or drink, or do drugs. For all you know I'm a pescatarian who drinks 3 liters of water a day and gets in 30 minutes of vigorous cardio with a weight ciruit. You simply don't know. Basing premiums on weight alone is dumb.

Originally Posted by tessaesque

But you're making a lot of assumptions about my lifestyle, aren't you? Do you know how often I exercise, or what I eat? Do you know whether I smoke, or drink, or do drugs. For all you know I'm a pescatarian who drinks 3 liters of water a day and gets in 30 minutes of vigorous cardio with a weight ciruit. You simply don't know. Basing premiums on weight alone is dumb.

um....I didn't refer to you even ONCE.

and no, I don't want premiums based on weight alone. But being overweight should be a major contributing factor to one's monthly premiums.

Originally Posted by Thunder

it doesn't cost a penny to walk around the block at a steady pace, for 30 minutes every two days.

no one if forced to be fat.

It has nothing to do with the cost of working out. It has everything to do with the fact lower income individuals that are working 2 jobs to support a family and are on limited budgets tend to buy unhealthy foods because they are cheaper and quicker. Keep in mind to a large part of the obeisity epidemic starts in childhood...where poor families feed their kids garbage like McDonalds happy meals and that's what they grow up on.

Originally Posted by Thunder

um....I didn't refer to you even ONCE.

and no, I don't want premiums based on weight alone. But being overweight should be a major contributing factor to one's monthly premiums.

I'm using myself as the example here, as I did initially in my first post. But the point remains whether its me or any other overweight person. Saying, "Oh, you're 10lb over ideal, that's an extra 3% on your premiums" is a stupid, illogical approach to the obesity problem.