State to hit obese workers with 'fat fee'

[tyler811]

The state of Alabama has given its 37,527 employees until 2010 to start getting fit -- or they'll pay $25 a month for insurance that otherwise is free.

Story

 

[grrl]

$25 a month is still cheap.


>>Walter Lindstrom, founder of the Obesity Law and Advocacy Center in California, is concerned that all overweight Alabama employees will get is advice to walk more and to broil their chicken.

"The state will feel good about itself for offering something, and the person of size will end up paying $300 a year for the bad luck of having a chronic disease his/her state-sponsored insurance program failed to cover in an appropriate and meaningful fashion," he said.<<


Where does personal responsibility come in? It's the government's responsibility to teach people how to lose weight? Maybe his advocacy center can offer free diet kits instead.

 

[TheVrolok]

Interesting. On the surface it sounds good, but I could see problems. I hope there are allowances for case by case exceptions if necessary. BMI is a bad indicator in and of itself. Muscular/well built people are screwed right there. Well, now that I looked again at the article it claims those above a BMI of 35 would be charged. 35 is getting pretty high, even for the really well built.

 

[Harabec]

Being fat is "bad luck" and "a chronic disease"?

 

[PlasmaBomb]

Originally posted by: Harabec
Being fat is "bad luck" and "a chronic disease"?

LOL...

 

[Bateluer]

I support this. It is not the government's responsibility to keep its citizens in shape. Unfortunately, the government has to foot the bill for some overweight people in the form of strain on the health care system. This will help offset it.

Private insurance firms already charge more to insure the obese, the same as the charge more for smokers.

 

[God Mode]

Its okay. Fat people can gather up and sue the government for lack of nutritional food establishments in the US. Mcdonalds and a pizza hut at every corner.

 

[Bateluer]

Originally posted by: God Mode
Its okay. Fat people can gather up and sue the government for lack of nutritional food establishments in the US. Mcdonalds and a pizza hut at every corner.

And both McDs and Pizza Hut do offer moderately healthy foods. They may cost a little more, and may not be quite as appealing at the Big Mac or Meat Lovers Deep Dish Pizza, but they do offer them.

This is America, there's also a gym every few blocks, no shortage of exercise equipment available, plenty of open roads and trails to jog on, and plenty of public pools to swim in.

 

[God Mode]

Originally posted by: Bateluer

Originally posted by: God Mode
Its okay. Fat people can gather up and sue the government for lack of nutritional food establishments in the US. Mcdonalds and a pizza hut at every corner.

And both McDs and Pizza Hut do offer moderately healthy foods. They may cost a little more, and may not be quite as appealing at the Big Mac or Meat Lovers Deep Dish Pizza, but they do offer them.

This is America, there's also a gym every few blocks, no shortage of exercise equipment available, plenty of open roads and trails to jog on, and plenty of public pools to swim in.

Good for you. I guess I go die in a corner since I'm not as great as you.

I'm not a fat person but I'm neutral enough to realize the effects on some people if you shove bigmac and triple bacon burger ads to them their entire lives. I see it no different than the dominant effects of google or microsoft. A healthy cuisine restaurant has no chance to compete in a neighborhood with a mcdonalds unless its some weird place like san francisco.

 

[CatchPhrase]

Originally posted by: Bateluer

Originally posted by: God Mode
Its okay. Fat people can gather up and sue the government for lack of nutritional food establishments in the US. Mcdonalds and a pizza hut at every corner.

And both McDs and Pizza Hut do offer moderately healthy foods. They may cost a little more, and may not be quite as appealing at the Big Mac or Meat Lovers Deep Dish Pizza, but they do offer them.

This is America, there's also a gym every few blocks, no shortage of exercise equipment available, plenty of open roads and trails to jog on, and plenty of public pools to swim in.

Thats bullshit.

 

[EGGO]

Originally posted by: CatchPhrase

Originally posted by: Bateluer

Originally posted by: God Mode
Its okay. Fat people can gather up and sue the government for lack of nutritional food establishments in the US. Mcdonalds and a pizza hut at every corner.

And both McDs and Pizza Hut do offer moderately healthy foods. They may cost a little more, and may not be quite as appealing at the Big Mac or Meat Lovers Deep Dish Pizza, but they do offer them.

This is America, there's also a gym every few blocks, no shortage of exercise equipment available, plenty of open roads and trails to jog on, and plenty of public pools to swim in.

Thats bullshit.

Have you not tried their water?

 

[God Mode]

Have you not tried their water?

regular or sugar-free diet?

 

[sniperruff]

aren't they already doing this in japan? $25 is nothing. i say $250 but throw in a free month of gym subsidized by the fine.

 

[BurnItDwn]

I don't understand why people are so concerned about "footing the bill" for fat people.

Everybody dies eventually.

Fat people usually run into heart problems SOONER than thin people, but usually they die faster. I'd think that over the entire course of their lives, thin people would be much more expensive since they will likely survive well past retirement and get medicare and ss benefits for a LONG time.

 

[Wheezer]

Originally posted by: God Mode

Originally posted by: Bateluer

Originally posted by: God Mode
Its okay. Fat people can gather up and sue the government for lack of nutritional food establishments in the US. Mcdonalds and a pizza hut at every corner.

And both McDs and Pizza Hut do offer moderately healthy foods. They may cost a little more, and may not be quite as appealing at the Big Mac or Meat Lovers Deep Dish Pizza, but they do offer them.

This is America, there's also a gym every few blocks, no shortage of exercise equipment available, plenty of open roads and trails to jog on, and plenty of public pools to swim in.

Good for you. I guess I go die in a corner since I'm not as great as you.

I'm not a fat person but I'm neutral enough to realize the effects on some people if you shove bigmac and triple bacon burger ads to them their entire lives. I see it no different than the dominant effects of google or microsoft. A healthy cuisine restaurant has no chance to compete in a neighborhood with a mcdonalds unless its some weird place like san francisco.

They are weak which is why they succumb so easily to the advertisements of bad food.

Blaming fast food advertisers for your inadequacies is equivalent to blaming video games or music for teen suicide.

If everyone did what a TV told them this world would be in far deeper shit than what it is now.

I see these same ads everyday and drive by it everyday, and I cannot stand such inferior food.

it is about self-control...not the control others have over you.

There is an alternative to eating at either a fast food joint or a "healthy cuisine restaurant " and that is cook healthy meals at home......it is better for you and will save you money.

 

[Pepsei]

if smokers have to pay more, the massive eaters should... then we need to add alcoholics, oh oh those people who are into extreme sports, and people who like to sleep with multiple partners.

 

[God Mode]

They are weak which is why they succumb so easily to the advertisements of bad food.

Blaming fast food advertisers for your inadequacies is equivalent to blaming video games or music for teen suicide.

If everyone did what a TV told them this world would be in far deeper shit than what it is now.

Yes you're right. Advertising and cultural influence has absolutely no effect on people. We are all very independent and we never look to other people or entities for advice and lifestyles.

I see these same ads everyday and drive by it everyday, and I cannot stand such inferior food.

it is about self-control...not the control others have over you.

Yep. We're all losers if we like anything you dont like and we are out-of-control hooligans if we cant control every aspect of our lives. Yes, the democracy in the US easily lets me escape ford commercials and obamathons on tv so I could make my own unbiased decisions without hostile interference.

There is an alternative to eating at either a fast food joint or a "healthy cuisine restaurant " and that is cook healthy meals at home......it is better for you and will save you money.

I only wish I could have the sheer willpower, time, mental health and uprising that you posess. I also wish I could mill my own grains, overhaul my engine and build my own house with a screwdriver and pliers. Your solutions intrigue me and I wish to subscribe to your newsletter. You see, I'm human and I have a lot of vulnerabilities. I need help on how to manage and juggle a better life but mcdonalds keep sending me coupons and a lot of other companies wont stop leaving me alone.

 

[Red Dawn]

Originally posted by: God Mode

They are weak which is why they succumb so easily to the advertisements of bad food.

Blaming fast food advertisers for your inadequacies is equivalent to blaming video games or music for teen suicide.

If everyone did what a TV told them this world would be in far deeper shit than what it is now.

Yes you're right. Advertising and cultural influence has absolutely no effect on people. We are all very independent and we never look to other people or entities for advice and lifestyles.

I see these same ads everyday and drive by it everyday, and I cannot stand such inferior food.

it is about self-control...not the control others have over you.

Yep. We're all losers if we like anything you dont like and we are out-of-control hooligans if we cant control every aspect of our lives. Yes, the democracy in the US easily lets me escape ford commercials and obamathons on tv so I could make my own unbiased decisions without hostile interference.

There is an alternative to eating at either a fast food joint or a "healthy cuisine restaurant " and that is cook healthy meals at home......it is better for you and will save you money.

I only wish I could have the sheer willpower, time, mental health and uprising that you posess. I also wish I could mill my own grains, overhaul my engine and build my own house with a screwdriver and pliers. Your solutions intrigue me and I wish to subscribe to your newsletter. You see, I'm human and I have a lot of vulnerabilities. I need help on how to manage and juggle a better life but mcdonalds keep sending me coupons and a lot of other companies wont stop leaving me alone.

No problem, you just have to pay an extra $25 a month.

 

[Nitemare]

broiled chicken is just wrong...

there's plenty of other ways not to be a fatass though

:thumbsup:

 

[God Mode]

No problem, you just have to pay an extra $25 a month.

Any my address and info wont be sold to other companies and I wont be getting special offers selling me solutions for my small penis?

 

[SunnyD]

While I really don't care about this much, I can see the lawyers rubbing their hands together with glee. Discrimination plain and simple. (Of course one could say the same about smoking, but in the case of smoking it's no so much a fine as it is in this case, but the gray area is huge - pun intended)

 

[TechBoyJK]

Originally posted by: SunnyD
While I really don't care about this much, I can see the lawyers rubbing their hands together with glee. Discrimination plain and simple. (Of course one could say the same about smoking, but in the case of smoking it's no so much a fine as it is in this case, but the gray area is huge - pun intended)

descrimination on some counts is merited.

like... do we have to pay more for insurance for fat people? we do, ok, so we take more out of the fat persons pay check.

or... do we need someone tall to work the stock room? we do, ok, so lets not hire someone in a wheel chair that can't do the job.

 

[SirStev0]

I love the fattie advocacy group. I am pretty out of shape, but that huggy happy it is ok to be who you are stuff is just too much.

If being fat gets you down, lose some fucking weight. Don't tell each other it is okay.

 

[ViviTheMage]

It's the beginning!!

 

[Eeezee]

Why do people always assume that fat people eat lots of big macs... I'm fat (240 lbs at 6'2") but I don't even eat fast food. I exercise regularly and I don't eat eat any worse than most of my thin friends.

Is this $25 just for insurance? It seems reasonable; fat people cost more in insurance. But if you're going to start charging differences, then I'd rather they drop the health insurance all together, give everyone an equal raise (the cost of the health plans), and let the employees pick their own health insurance.