Scott P
11-04-2009, 08:08 PM
I have to admit that I agree 100% with this article in Outside Magazine. It's quite interesting.
http://outside.away.com/outside/culture/200911/cash-for-good-health.html
EVEN IF YOU TRIED, as I did, to avoid this year's health-care debate, it was impossible to ignore some of its startling statistics. Take, for instance, the annual medical costs linked to obesity, as reported in July by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention: $147 billion, more than 7 percent of the nation's health-care tab of more than $2 trillion.
About a month after the CDC report, the processed-food industry, with support from the American Heart and Diabetes associations, unveiled its Smart Choices Program, which approves special labels for healthy foods. Among the products stamped better choice were Froot Loops, Frosted Flakes, and dozens of other candy-for-breakfast items.
The Little Idea: Call It What You Will
Once you've settled on differential pricing, the rest is just semantics: Fat tax, or skinny rebate? The price for premiums for heavier Americans is $100. The cost for fitter Americans: $80.
When I heard about this, I literally slapped my forehead. The CDC has indicated that as much as 75 percent of U.S. health-care spending goes to treating chronic maladies, many of which are indirectly attributed to our slothful lifestyles and dismal diets. I understand why so much of the health-care debate is focused on dealing with our symptoms
http://outside.away.com/outside/culture/200911/cash-for-good-health.html
EVEN IF YOU TRIED, as I did, to avoid this year's health-care debate, it was impossible to ignore some of its startling statistics. Take, for instance, the annual medical costs linked to obesity, as reported in July by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention: $147 billion, more than 7 percent of the nation's health-care tab of more than $2 trillion.
About a month after the CDC report, the processed-food industry, with support from the American Heart and Diabetes associations, unveiled its Smart Choices Program, which approves special labels for healthy foods. Among the products stamped better choice were Froot Loops, Frosted Flakes, and dozens of other candy-for-breakfast items.
The Little Idea: Call It What You Will
Once you've settled on differential pricing, the rest is just semantics: Fat tax, or skinny rebate? The price for premiums for heavier Americans is $100. The cost for fitter Americans: $80.
When I heard about this, I literally slapped my forehead. The CDC has indicated that as much as 75 percent of U.S. health-care spending goes to treating chronic maladies, many of which are indirectly attributed to our slothful lifestyles and dismal diets. I understand why so much of the health-care debate is focused on dealing with our symptoms