Obesity does not pay: Lose weight and make more money.

Health care is expensive. It is estimated that health care spending in the United States will reach $2.2 trillion this year. Much of this cost is absorbed by companies.

Obesity places individuals at risk for diabetes, heart disease, organ failure, depression, and many serious health problems. A sick employee also results in lower productivity and higher costs for companies.

Companies are now placing some financial burden onto employees for being fat. According to a recent article on MSNBC.com:

“In 2009 the company will start reducing pay for employees in its health plan by
$10 per paycheck if their BMI — a measurement of body fat through a height and
weight ratio — is in the obese range of more than 29.9. The deduction will be $5
per check if they don’t meet required cholesterol, blood pressure or blood
glucose measurements. Workers will be required to complete an annual health risk
assessment and can appeal to have their fees dropped if they show improvement.”

Reference: Employees starting to pay for poor health

If obese Americans will not lose weight for better health, perhaps they’ll lose weight when it becomes a financial penalty.

Obesity in the news:
Property values signal obesity (Chicago Tribune, United States) - Neighborhood property values predict obesity rates better than education or incomes, according to a study from the University of Washington published online ...

New link between obesity and infertility (Daily Telegraph, Australia - By Tamara McLean) SCIENTISTS have proven the link between obesity and infertility, with tests showing fat mice are more likely to have damaged embryos which ...

Rising gasoline prices could take a bite out of America's obesity ... (News from Washington University in St. Louis, MO) - An additional $1 in real gasoline prices would reduce obesity in the US by 15 percent after three years," suggests Charles Courtemanche, an economics ...

New approach to fighting obesity and diabetes (UQ News, Australia) - UQ researcher Professor Bob Gilbert said that while an unhealthy lifestyle and poor eating habits were significant factors in Australia's obesity and ...

High Blood Pressure Rising Among Children (Washington Post, United States) - This is another piece of evidence suggesting that the obesity epidemic will likely turn into a heart disease epidemic." Previous research had indicated that ...

Health Headlines in the News - Sept 9th, 2007

Health Highlights Two or more alcoholic drinks a day may double the risk of endometrial (uterine) cancer, researchers at the University of Southern California have found.

Brooklyn woman tests positive for West Nile (New York- WABC, September 7, 2007) The New York City Department of Health confirmed the season's first human case of West Nile virus Friday.

China reports leap in new HIV/AIDS cases BEIJING (Reuters) - China reported 18543 new cases of HIV/AIDS in the first half of this year, state media said, near the number for the whole of 2006.

Doctors flunk quiz about supplements their patients use (By Sandra G. Boodman The Washington Post) - It's common knowledge that Americans are taking more dietary supplements than ever.Suspended doctors taint drug trials St. Petersburg Times

Breast Cancer More Deadly in Black Women (The Associated Press) - A new study gives a possible explanation for why breast cancer is more deadly in black women: they are more likely to have tumors that do not respond to the hormone-based treatments that help many others with the disease.

Couple Charged With Illegal Surgeries (The Associated Press) - A couple were arrested after authorities said they performed illegal and disfiguring cosmetic surgeries in their filthy home, filled with drugs and syringes.

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