States seek to lower obesity rates

CBS Marketwatch ^ | July 5, 2002 | Andrea Coombes

[Intimidator]

That could easily be taken care of. The insurance companies should charge the fatsos higher premiums, just like they do for smokers.

That would work alot better than PE classes.

[Husker24]

This is just another excuse to put a tax on vending machines or junk food......taxtaxtaxtaxtaxtaxta xtaxtaxtaxtaxtaxtaxtaxtaxtaxta xtaxtaxtaxtaxtaxtaxtaxtaxtaxta xtaxtaxtaxtaxtaxtaxtaxtaxtaxta xtaxtax.

[A Ruckus of Dogs]

Five foot three and kind of petite.

[Intimidator]

Before taking anybody's word that America is getting fatter go here: http://nhlbisupport.com/bmi/ This is the tool now used to define people as obese or not. Notice it's a flat comparison of height and weight. No longer do you take into account things like age, gender, skeletal frame type, muscle mass or body fat % (which is truly the only measurement that counts for determining if your obese). The reason our obese nubmers are sky rocketing is that they've fudged the definition to the point where anyone waying more than X (regardless of how they got there, even if they're bulging muscles) is obese. Bad science inspired bad laws.

I took the test and I'm in the normal category. heheheheh

[discostu]

According to BMI you're normal. On the low side of normal, but not petite.

[Tourist Guy]

I gotta tell you, back around 1994-95 when 'they' started coming down hard on smokers (make 'em go outside in the snow, non-smoking sports arenas built on sin-taxes etc) I heard an off-hand comment "just wait, they're coming after your french fries next!"
I really found that statement to be incredulous; however, time has proven it correct.

What's next? (Not that they are finished with the fatboys yet). Care to hazard a guess? Gasoline $5.00/gal? Electricity $1.00 KWH? Barbeque grills? Air conditioners (they keep "bad air" circulating ya know)?

AND WHY IS IT THE PERVERSE DEVIANTS OF SOCIETY GET MORE AND MORE "RIGHTS" EVERY FREAKING DAY, WHILE NORMAL PEOPLE ARE GETTING PUSHED INTO THE CORNER??????

/rant

[maxwell]

AND WHY IS IT THE PERVERSE DEVIANTS OF SOCIETY GET MORE AND MORE "RIGHTS" EVERY FREAKING DAY, WHILE NORMAL PEOPLE ARE GETTING PUSHED INTO THE CORNER??????

Amen, brother. I think I'll go have french fries for dinner while I still can...

[Tourist Guy]

>>>I think I'll go have french fries for dinner <<<

Hurry up, bub: they'll be a fifty-cent tax on them come Monday!

=)

[discostu]

That's my point, by completely ignoring muscle mass and body fat percentage the measurement is useless. Someone Eddie's height and weight who's all fat clearly would be obese, but this measure makes no distinction between the two. You wound up on the nice side of the cusp. The new standards, now that their unisex and ignore bone frame moved the "ideal weight" down from normal male a couple pounds. Even the old one was crap but at least it used your gender and frame in the measurement. Body fat percentage that's the only useful measurement, Special K figured this one out 15 years ago and these quacks can't wrap their head around it.

[discostu]

No I did read that. Notice there are no guidelines. Just a couple of "mays". If it "may" be the wrong number then what good is the system? It takes about 5 minutes with one of those little pinchy thingies to figure out or BFP.

[dtel]

I fear you're fighting a losing battle.
Just judging from the PGA tour, it appears the white, very wealthy crowd is more overweight than say the caublanasian, very wealthy crowd.
Snicker. ;^)

[discostu]

Who's winning all the money on that tour?

[Texan5]

I, too am tired of paying insurance premiums for the ignorance of others. I have insurance because of the occassional on the job accident that requires stitches or a tetanus shot. Everyone needs to be responsible for their own actions, and pay premiums accordingly. I have only been to the doctor for two minor injuries (no illnesses, but we don't believe in taking drugs, either) in the last 25 years. We do practice good nutrition, and have active jobs. If adults would bestir themselves to get a good working knowledge of nutrition, teach it to their kids, and practice what they preach by cooking fresh, healthy meals AT HOME, I think it would go a lot further than more tax dollars into the government kitty.

[discostu]

Here's a nice little article from the BMI change over in '98:
http://www.junkscience.com/new s2/obesity.htm

[SpeakLittle_ThinkMuch]

You got your wish. The insurance companies DO charge more for the overweight. Why do you think the first two questions on the form are height & weight.

Having just shopped health insurance for my family and business, most of the companies charge $100 to $200 more...per month...per person, for anyone more than 10% over the new BMI charts.

Would you like fries with that sir???

[discostu]

We're living longer than ever and we're taller than ever. By most sane measurements that says we're pretty healthy.