Obesity takes a heavy toll on your wallet: study
A new OECD report claims that Canada has a relatively high number of overweight citizens, suggesting one in four of us currently qualifies as obese — a number that’s expected to climb a further five per cent over the next decade.
Canadian obesity rates are well below those of the United States, however, which the OECD gleefully highlights as the fattest nation among its member countries.
South of the border, 70 per cent of residents are classified as overweight.
Aside from the obvious health issues, the price of all this extra weight is starting to add up both for individuals and employers in added benefits and absentee costs — especially for women, according to a recent study from George Washington University.
Researchers examined several factors, including everything from increases in sick days, short-term disability and emergency room care, to higher grocery bills and even extra gasoline (the heavier your car load, the more gas you wolf down).
The report, led by health policy professor Christine Ferguson, pulled together several previous studies into day-to-day expenditure and loss of income. Its conclusion: The annual cost of being obese is $4,879 for a woman and just $2,646 for a man.
When the researchers added the value of lost life to this, the toll was even greater: $8,365 for women and $6,518 for men.
Turns out, however, the price differential may have less to do with medical spending — health-care costs were steady across gender lines at $1,566 annually — than with discrimination.
Larger women tend to earn less than slimmer women while wages don’t differ much for men of various sizes. Generally speaking, obese women earn an average of six percent less than most other women do, the study notes.
Do you think carrying a few extra pounds has hurt you financially? Do you see evidence of a plus-size gender gap where you work?
By Gordon Powers, MSN Money
Posted by: Gord Mansfield | Sep 27, 2021 5:22:22 AM
If we do not get a grip on the obesity problem, our medical system will not be sustainable. People who are obese with no underlying medical reason should be required to pay for medical costs associated with the obesity issue. Same for smokers and anyone else who is personally responsible for a medical condition. If some sort of action is not taken our medical system will collapse. It is getting worse every year and something has to be done.
Posted by: aaa | Sep 27, 2021 8:09:00 AM
I agree with everything you're saying Gord Mansfield.
Another perspective though, except for our health care system, aren't obese people this way because they are poor? For example, the ones I know eat junk food, which is cheap, because they don't have money, because they aren't working. Also, don't obese people get the cheap clothes in the cheap stores? (The same reasons as mentioned above.)
Don't they need to get exercising so they have energy to go to work and then, in turn, eat properly? (Just wondering here.)
Posted by: Shar | Sep 27, 2021 2:07:42 PM
I am obese adn slowly taking it off. I have another 30 lbs to go. I used to take offense at the idea of having to pay extra for medical care but now I agree. It is likely the only thing that will work. People, even me, need to get a grip on not only what this is costing the healthcare system, but to understand the idea that you are really in control of this, noone else is responsible. As far as costs for food - in my experience it is not cheaper to eat junk food, it is just easier. Anytime I have made a concious effort to lose weight and get healthy I can honestly say that my food bill went down, dramatically.
Posted by: Genuine stingray leather | Oct 4, 2021 7:27:07 AM
Find best deal of Genuine stingray leather (sanded stingray leather) photo / picture frame PH01-SA Green at Leather of the World.
Posted by: Stingray wallet | Nov 17, 2021 8:44:03 AM
Leather of the World provides you Stingray Leather, Stingray Leather Belt, Stingray Leather Wallets, Stingray Leather Wallet, Stingray Leather Products at reasonable price.
Posted by: Amanda | Dec 16, 2021 1:02:20 AM
YOu people are all waxed and on drugs. I hope that you never get a illness that makes you fat. I bet that you are all alcholics but thats okay right? NO WAY!