[Atlas Sneezed]

Where do you get the idea that if someone is overweight or a smoker they don't work as hard as someone else?

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First, we are talking about trends and averages, not the perfect prediction of individual performance.

Second, Smokers and the overweight are demonstrably irresponsible with their own health. Irresponsibility in one area correlates (imperfectly) with irresponsibility elsewhere.

Third, smokers and the overweight have more sick days.

Fourth, smokers and the overweight can increase overall health insurance costs.

Fifth, in some jobs, smokers and the overweight are less effective (people might not like a cashier who smells like an ashtray, or a salesman who looks like he has no self-control.) Real biases among the public can mean lower profits for employers.

[Gabz]

Correlation is not causation and everyone of your comments in regard to smokers and overweight people are based on statistical manipulation, not fact.

I'm not over weight, but I am a smoker..........I have been in the workforce in some way shape or form for more years than I have been a smoker and I've smoked for about 30 years...........regarless of the claim that every ailment of society is due to someone being a smoker or overweight I beg to differ.....appendicitis, pregnancy, and broken bones have nothing to do with my being a smoker and those are the only reasons I have ever missed work...and the second 2 didn't mean anymore than less than 2 days of beig out of circulation.

If you don't want to hire me because I smoke or I'm fat - that's your perogative - just keep the government out of it.

[Not just another dumb blonde]

Yeah, the trend right now is "smokers are easy targets". You, being a non-smoker, have deemed it necessary to tell me I am irresponsible....except, you don't know me, so how can you assume that? Do you speed in your car? Do you drink alcohol? I never had any more sick days than anyone else I worked with, and less than some. In all the years I've been smoking I have never been treated for anything related to my smoking. Anyone who has been treated for any long term care (smokers or not) have contributed to the increase in health care. Why didn't you just say you were bigoted when it comes to smokers and the overweight? In a perfect world we'd all be just like you. Where do you get your sources of information from? It must suck for you to have to be living on this same earth as someone like me