It's not about absenteeism, it is about lost productivity and the costs associated with it. I work with a lot of 21 - 25 year olds, and they do not seem to care if they are at work or not, but the company is not losing money because they are not there.

Hell, $50 billion (exaggeration) went to the study. When will our government stop these moronic studies?

They always claim they have to cut fire and police every time budgets get discussed.

Hey a-holes, stop paying your buddies millions for these studies!

Damn, I was not exaggerating that much. I just googled "how much grant for obesity study" and this is what I got on the first page alone.

All of these are million dollar figures, 2.2,1.5,12.7 and 49.5.

And they do not think we can afford tax cuts, morons!

$70 billion - that doesn't sound like much anymore. They can just print it.

This study in NOT an exageration, I worked with a lady that is (hopefully still alive) morbidly obese and she used her chair to roll around the office instead of getting up and walking. She was not only very slow and constantly required that the rest of us pick up her slack but she had a ton of other problems. For one you can DIE from being obese, two there was a horrible smell everywhere she went, it was awefull. This lady had candy bars in her drawer and ate two fast food burgers every morning, so kuddos to all of you here who say you eat healthy and exersice despite being overweight but there are plenty out there who do not care.

So, this study was funded by the good people who bring us Lap Band. They have an economic interest in the findings. This is not a study. It's an advertisement!! Lets call a spade a spade here!!

I, for one have a BMI of 30. I wear a size 16. I exercise on a regular basis, I can walk miles at a time with no problem. I am very active, eat healthy, no fast food, a candy bar a couple of times per year. Very few processed foods. Don't smoke, drink occasionally, usually on weekends. I am very healthy, and middle aged.

Other than for childbirth, a broken ankle and a once every 5+ years cold, I don't miss work.

Lets not blame these problems on obesity alone. These are people who, if they have health problems, don't take care of them.

I am 25 years old and know many young adults who do care if they are at work or not. They (I) do care that I do a great job to further pursue my career. If these young adults you are talking about are not doing their job then get rid of them. I have plenty of friends, hard working friends, who would love to take their spot.

I resent your comment and it shows your pure ignorance.

livingbarefoot - since when is lap-band the govt?

I wonder how they calculated loss of productivity while on the job, in comparison to non-fat people? Not that im doubting that extremely overweight people were lagging in productivity (i've worked enough jobs to know this is sadly the truth, that really fat people dont want to own up to)...but heck, i've worked with a lot of really skinny lazy people too.

Ironically, I work with 2 really lazy people right now...one is skinny the other is obese, but they both do the same thing everyday...sit and watch tv on the computer, or stand at each other cubicles and talk. We've been really slow since the economy tanked in late 08 - and thankfully I haven't been let go, but you know it would really burn me up if they were kept before I was if they ever decided to lay anyone off. The heavier one is the boss' daughter...im not going to hold my breath.

I dont qualify as obese, though I am overweight...I take all 6 sick days I get, otherwise I dont get paid for them, and since the boss' daughter takes 2x as many (along with more vacation than she has) I dont feel 1 bit guilty about it. I am not sick all 6 of those days, but use or lose em...I didnt create the rules, I just follow them.

The war on fat is hitting high gear !!! It's not enough for Govco. to be involved in all other aspects of our lives, now we need Michelle,Nancy and Catherine to tell us what to eat!! This is an excuse for insurance surcharges to try and stem the flood of red ink that's going to flow from Pelosi/Obamacare!!

Get High Fructose Corn Syrup and MSG out of our food and export them to the nations that don't like us !! The obesity epidemic follows a straight curve from when sugar was removed from soft drinks and replaced with HFCS but no one wants to admit that.

The corn lobby is too strong to get HFCS out of our drinks and foods (their latest scam is attempting to rename it "corn sugar") and our corrupt politicians are far too happy to suck up lobbyist dollars, so now,instead of returning to natural sweeteners Govco. will charge more for Obamacare if you're a fat a$$. USA, USA !!!

I used to work as a janitor and every weekend I would have to clean a room that was occupied by "Gamers" who sat around for literally 16 hours eating CrackArnolds (McDonalds for those of you who dont know) and playing board games. Almost all of them were obese and the smell that they left in the room when they were finished was so offensive that it still makes me quiver.

....so disgusting.

Who are you kidding? Its those 5 horses protecting the quarterback that help bring down the average age of death for NFL players. Its fact that overweight people die younger, you cannot argue with facts. As one who is against the mandate of Obamacare, I firmly believe I should not be forced to purchase health insurance unless smokers and the overweight pay more.

You must believe in unicorns if you actually believe what you just wrote. Its impossible for anyone to eat right,not smoke, exercise every day and still be 100 lbs over weight. One hour of aerobic exercise each day with eating right would be enough for anyone to experience weight loss.

Its impossible for anyone to eat right,not smoke, exercise every day and still be 100 lbs over weight.

If you're so sure then do a little research and prove them wrong. Why don't you also research how people can weigh next to zero pounds, not eat at all, exercise every day and still be healthy.

We must be ahead with our insurance. We already charge higher premiums for smokers and fatties (at least with car and life insurance). And bullriders can't even get it, hardly.

It's all about what you choose to spend your money on.

What about all the rest of the fatties I don't want to share health-care costs with?

Define "fattie." To the majority people who are only fifteen pounds overweight are considered a "fattie."

Its impossible for anyone to eat right,not smoke, exercise every day and still be 100 lbs over weight. One hour of aerobic exercise each day with eating right would be enough for anyone to experience weight loss.

Where have YOU been? Unfortunately, this is true! Many eat 1200 calories of the "right" foods and aerobically exercise daily for at least an hour and still suffer from obesity, wish it weren't true but some autoimmune thyroid disorders and other autoimmune disorders really distort a person's metabolism. Some people are not able to absorb the synthetic hormones that help a lot of suffers. Don't be so quick to judge.

Many people are simply born with a decent metabolism and simple daily exercise and a decent diet keep them slim, others eat whatever and exercise and remain thin, and some eat terribly and don't exercise and remain thin. Let's face it people are different and they face different challenges.

Tax tobacco because people are fat?

No, we're gonna need that money to service future lung cancer patients...

How about a tax on Doritos and Mountain Dew?

perhaps you are not aware that they all ready illegally tariff tobacco to fund obesity related health care.

and i bet if i do get lung cancer, i won't be eligible for health care because i smoke.

SKEoD,

They can no longer exclude you for health care coverage.

The idea that we have an"illegal" tariff on tobacco is BS, and anyone with any sense knows it!

That being said, we should have sin taxes on things like soda, fast food and candy just as we have such taxes on Alcohol and Tobacco. We know these products cause health problems that we end up paying for through Medicare, Medicaid and increased cost of Health insurance. We should be taxing them to pay for these services.

I pay out my nose every time I go to the store to re-up on beer, liquor and smokes. And I have to deal with discrimination at work and being told on a daily basis by a bunch of judgemental @!$%#s that smoking is bad. Well no @!$%# sherlock.

I definately agree to taxing candy, sweets, fast food, soda, and everything else that is not beer or cigs to the hilt just to turn the table on you whiny whiners for awhile.

PS: Bring back smoking in the bars you stupid bureaucrats!!!

Well, if you want to up the chances to die a nice, slow painful death by cirrosis of the liver, lung cancer, etc , that's your prerogative.

I just don't want to pay for it by either public assistance or higher insurance premiums. THAT'S the reason there are sin taxes.

I'm all for a sin tax on candy, baked goods, fast food, soda. Awesome! Higher revenue for the state to offset obesity and it'll make people think twice (including myself) to eat that junk.

If you think I'm a total health nut I would like to say I wouldn't mind to bring back smoking in bars too. Culturally people go a little overboard with the stigma of smoking in the past 15 years or so. If people want to smoke while having a drink not a problem. They just gotta know where all of these taxes are used for.

If there were no over weight, smokers or drinkers, the insurance companies would find something else to put into their risk management formula to increase premiums.

No Chris, sounds like you're the one generalizing - just because you may be an exception, doesn't mean all the other fat people don't effect a drag on the overall system...

@111pct-- He may be generalizing, but he still is hurt by things like this because a lot of people (to generalize again) don't want to think too deeply about assumptions and "studies". It's much easier to just judge a whole group rather than individuals, especially since it's still 'acceptable' in today's society to hate and discriminate against others because they happen to be fat. I chalk it up to many feeling the need to feel 'superior' in some way, and it's the easiest and least demanding way to try and salvage one's own flagging self-esteem or self-image.

The Surgeon General recently made a statement about how we need to focus less on obesity and more on health. Healthy living is possible every size (barring extremes on either side of the spectrum), and I don't doubt it will only improve yet more once being overweight is less stigmatized (after all, it pretty clearly hasn't worked in the past several decades to make people thinner...perhaps the answer is to in fact make healthy food more affordable and available, as well as access to safe exercise spaces).

Yep I agree with 111pct. Overweight folks are driving up Healthcare costs and should have to pay more for coverage, just as smokers should have to. Hold those accountable for their actions.

Speaking of "driving up" health care costs; then anyone who has an automobile accident or who has had a speeding ticket, DUI or any kind of reckless driving ticket should PAY MORE FOR HEATH CARE COVERAGE. These people possibly exhibit more risky behavior and therefore have accidents and/or cause injury to others, so they should pay more.

UAW makes me sick (#6.3), This is where we may end up using your logic.

Some Automobile and Health insurance companies now check your CREDIT REPORT in order to determine your Premium.

The Insurance Companies will find any and ALL reasons to raise rates in order to maximize their profits (similar to what the Credit Card Companies are doing).

Soon we will probably get Genetic Testing to determine if we will be a candidate for certain diseases in our lifetimes. The Insurance Companies will more likely use that data to raise insurance rates on those who have a high possibility of contracting certain diseases in their lifetimes. Is that a more fair method to charge a person for their health care and will employers be able to get this Genetic Information and discriminate in hiring certain people?

Be careful when you single out one or two groups for discrimination; the finger of bias when one day point a YOU!

Typing to fast...;-)

Be careful when you single out one or two groups for discrimination; the finger of bias may one day point at YOU!

I am tired of the whining. If you are fat deal with it quitely. Dont make your problem, my problem. I choose to smoke and drink, and I take the beating from the non-smokers and non-drinkers social policy everyday. But do I come running to you whining about injustice? No, I go home and drink until I feel good about living in a world overflowing with morons.

Why dont you pack up your bags and move to the desert or Somolia and see if your "genetic" condition doesnt reverse itself and you miraculously start losing weight. fatty.

Lionel- when bias and threats of violence (not accusing you of this- others have directly threatened me with violence- and they have no evidence of my size! It's not huge but overweight would be a fair statement) end, when the constant onslaught of articles "whipping up the masses" that obesity is such an epidemic in this country, when it isn't a daily subject at work to talk about how we "need to get healthy" in this country....then, and only then, will I discontinue my postings of good common sense and logic. There are more things behind the obesity issue than simple overeating.
Yes, I do agree overeating is a problem, absolutely, but many people overeat. Why do some eat huge quantities of "junk" day in and day out, and not get noticed because they look "ok", and others exercise like crazy and have to go to extremes to lose just a little weight? It simply doesn't make sense unless more than a simple calories in + exercise equation is contributing (not really causing- contributing)

To address the subject matter; I'm afraid that it is true. Generally, costs for companies are logically higher for the rise in obesity levels. There are exceptions, of course, but overall there's nothing to indicate they'd be lower!

And when they aren't crazy and no longer smoke, how much are the other diseases going to cost. Your eventual disease is just the next one on the list. Your just the next societal burden with a price tag on your head. You won't be a patient, just an economic burden.

I'm getting a little tired of the cost analysis approach to health care. No one has yet discovered how to make an unmotivated person lose weight. So you trade $78 billion in lost productivity for $78 billion in useless intervention -- so what? If they're nonproductive, why are they still there? It's called a job. Either you do it satisfactorily or you should be out of there (unions not withstanding). This is not the reason why healthcare costs and the government in general are financially going down the tubes. It's overspending on useless and nonproductive care.

hell, I can pay a Chi-knee child a nickel an hour for more productivity. See, they don't gorge themselves on useless wasted, which is called overeating. They need nuritionment just to survive. Now that will motivate somebody.

Agreed. I think this explains a lot about this study: "The research was funded by Allergan, Inc., a health-care company that makes LAP-BAND and other devices used in weight-loss surgeries."

Katie--exactly. The company is hoping that by showing all this lost productivity employers will start paying for lap-band surgery.

These "results" are all from estimates that the company compiled based on worst case scenario of all of these "obesity related" diseases.

Nice job Allison.

Allison is correct that obese folk are not the only important large source of economic loss. But a successful problem solving strategy is divide and conquer. In this case obesity is a problem and should be dealt with. If it is fixed there is nothing but gains to all concerned. To say we cannot solve for obesity unless we simultaneously equalize effort and expenses for all other problems is a strategy for failure in all categories. WE can have anti-obesity campaigns and separately deal with those other causes of loss. But lets look at obesity now. So we know obesity is a problem and if someone is willing to fix it, let them. On point, my own experience as the business manager for my employer I see the same people who typically eat meals and snacks on the job that are loaded with sugars, salt, cream, fats, butter and starch, coming to my office each time the medical insurance goes up 30% per year and want me to do something because their blood pressure and diabetic meds are so expensive and the deductibles and co-pays are seriously expensive. I love these folks, but am unable to change the facts of medical insurance. We work hard to get the best deal for insurance we can. Even if we believe med ins has it's problems as well we still have to deal with it. As expensive as it is for them, if they are paying $100 to 200 a month for co-pays and deductibles but the true cost of their health is the $450 a month the employer pays plus their deductibles and co-pays we can see they are paying only $200 of the $650 it costs to cover them. Apparently that is not enough incentive for them to get the idea that if they changed their habits, lost 50 pounds they could at least reduce or avoid some costs for themselves. When their families visit the office we see their little children are as rotund is the Mom's and Dads. Little minnie-me's on track to the same medical problems. By the time these kids are 30 years old their pancreas has been fighting pre-diabetic eating habits for 27 years. 30 and 35 year olds weighing in at 250 female and 300 male and filing claims for diabetes and sending the bill for it to their co-workers who may be 60 or 65 years old and still do not claim in an entire year a single month's premium level worth of med expenses. When you see them choking down a huge piece of cake and joking about how much insulin they're going to need to inject afterwards it breaks your heart on the one hand, but also makes you understand it is almost criminal for these folks to do that and just shove the medical expenses off on other people. Somebody has to pay for this. If they won't get the idea voluntarily, they need to get the idea another way. The laws of physics and economics are going to work whether we like it or not. So why fight it. Get the obese people healthier and start cutting down on your losses. What is wrong with that ? ANd then we can try to fix the tanning bed "victims" problems.

While I agree with you, Allison, I can tell you that the idea of living on fresh foods are a great idea, but I lived on food benefits for a while. I tried avoiding the unhealthy foods. I bought fruits and veggies, whole grain breads, etc, but no matter how much I tried, I was out of food benefits long before the end of the month. I was having to dig into money for other things (gas, phone, savings, etc) to make sure my kids had enough to eat.

The unhealthy food is cheaper, and it's easier to find coupons and sales on the prepackaged foods as well.

That might the most ridiculous post ever. EVER! You actually walk out of a business if people aren't fatties???!!!

Very well thought out Kebo! Ivanho, referring to people who don't fit the "ideal" weight as 'fatties' is shameful. You may not fit the persecuted group right now but just wait your turn will come.....................cancer perhaps? It will be YOUR fault, where you chose to live, the types of foods you chose to ate, the fact that your parents chose to reproduce, the type of career you pursued, etc....or maybe it will be your ethnicity that is scapegoated.............no worries your time will come!

My company pays for fitness memberships for all employees! It seems to keep people healthier and happier! Productivity has increased by about 13% since we instituted the policy about 6 years ago. People seem to be happy to be there which makes it a far nicer place to spend the day. One of the best investments we have ever made.

The poor can eat healthy and cheap if they choose too. Oatmeal, chicken, rice, salads, greenbeans, bananas. It may be the same everyday but its all cheap but instead they choose to eat bad. Also exercise can be done anywhere, walk to the park, run, outside or inside their home and with no one. For the most part, its no ones fault but their own if people are unhealthy and or overweight, we need people to start being more accountable for their actions.

but instead they choose to eat bad.

"THEY?" All poor people choose to eat poorly? (you incorrectly used the word "bad" as an adverb, the word you needed to use was "poorly")

we need people to start being more accountable for their actions.

Our society needs to be comprised of more literate people, we are suffering from a lack of basic intelligence, the inability to even speak and write in one language, and obviously from the inability to recognize propaganda. This study was funded by a company selling bariatric surgerical supplies. Wake up Americans and think critically! Scapegoating and propaganda is intended to get the masses to blindly follow......Hitler anyone?

Those drive-through nutritionists don't work.

They just take a year to run the circles.

SN-256 Very well said! For all those scapegoating people just wait until the finger is pointed at you!

You can't help your ethnicity. You can put down the hot-fudge sundae, and the triple meat Whopper.

Well put! It's simple physics people...

You can't gain the weight if you don't eat the food people!

I don't care how "slow your metabolism" is... You can't make an extra 100lbs of as$ unless you put in at least an extra 100lbs worth of calories.

You are correct "Don't you people have jobs?"

You also made me smile when I read your comment.

Thanks.

We try to manage by science and the numbers. Anecdotally we all know smokers who live to be 90, obese people who work hard and are well liked and admired, productive. We all know normal weight, non smokers who goof off and are obnoxious. But still you have to manage by the numbers and the science. Obese people as a subset of the population do have all the issues the doctors and scientists say they do. So lets solve for that, and quit throwing out the anecdotes and projecting the anecdote as a "norm" and then pretend we should do nothing because a friend of ours might be offended. OR you can take that approach but please quit complaining about the 30% insurance increases, the loss of jobs, the price of American made goods and all the rest of it. It is just a matter of choices. Choose with knowledge.

Well perhaps we should charge more for each illness.

If you have the lightest complexion you are more likely to develop skin cancer so you have to pay $100 more per month for your insurance.

If you are African American you have a higher risk for high blood pressure so you have to pay $50 more per month in your health premiums.

If you are male you have a high risk of prostate cancer so thats an additional $65 in health premiums.

White males are at a higher risk for colon cancer so thats an additional $150 in premiums.

Women are more likely to be pregnant so thats an additional $200 in premiums.

And the list goes on and on and on...........................................

How about we share the expense and treat people equally? We all pay the same amount for the same health care, now there's an idea!

Obviously not as much as being a butt smoking fat ass!

Yeah, but they can fire you for being lazy.

Impressed? They get millions of our tax dollars for this crap!

Public universal healthcare is my reason

"The research was funded by Allergan, Inc., a health-care company that makes LAP-BAND and other devices used in weight-loss surgeries."

Not our tax dollars at work. Just another company trying to justify its existence.

Maybe because Medicaid, Medicare and private insurance companies then raise the price of premiums and services on HEALTHY people as a result?

Wow, so much total ignorance on here

Look at my post above, this one maybe not, but we are spending billions on stupid studies.

Bart 133 - Read what YOU wrote! You should stand up to the insurance companies! They are SUPPOSED to cover medical expenses! The mistake is they are "for profit!" They should have NO right to raise costs for doing what they are paid to do!

For decades we Americans have taken this @!$%#! If you USE your paid for insurance rate go up?! This is NOT okay! It never was and it should be irradicated now!

If I am paid to do a job and then I actuallly DO it, I don't get to raise my salary because I actually did what I was paid to do finally!!!!!!!!!

20%? Don't you think that's a bit low? 30% maybe.

Bob,
Sadly, I am afraid a growing portion of the population is generally supportive of a BMI of 20%, or preferably less, as the minimum to be an accepted member of society.

honestly, as prejudiced as that sounds, it is a reality in a lot of fields of work. my wife hires warehouse workers for a larger grocery chain in texas and you simply cannot be fat and out of shape to do the job. basically, if someone comes in who is too big or a really small skinny woman without enough muscle strength, they will call them out on it and not hire them. if they aren't fit for the job, it's not discrimination.

so yeah, for a lot of jobs, don't hire fat, weak, out of shape people.

Have you watched professional weight lifting? Some of those guys have bellies hanging over their belts. And they can out-lift bodybuilders (bodybuilding is about sculpting muscles NOT building strength). I'm not saying they're healthy--I'm just saying that just because someone is tubby DON'T assume they're physically weak.

They'd have to be stronger, because they're carrying around an extra couple hundred pounds of as$