Extra pounds mean insurance fees for Ala. workers

You must be one of those people who is overweight and unwilling to examine your own personal habits. This policy suggests that ALL state employess be screened, not just the ones whom others consider "fat". So the "skinny" people with health problems would be identified. Since when is weight an indicator of health? As an employee ( and a taxpayer) of the state of Arizona, I would be GRATEFUL to the aformentioned bureaucrats (if my state only had brave ones like good ole' Alabama) who are trying to save taxpayers' money by encouraging healthy lifestyles among its own employees.

But they clearly stated that the fee would only be assessed to those who had a BMI above a certain number. So those who had problems even though they were not overweight would cause the same extra costs but wouldn't be charged for their insurance. That's discrimination.

But yet willing to throw money at entitlements in an attempt to redistribute the wealth or give it to those who are not even citizens of our country?

You know there are some people who are just screwed when it comes to the genes they acquired from mom and pop. There are many illnesses or health factors that people have no control over, yet our modern medical society won't even recognize or haven't evolved enough to understand them. What about those people? You can't throw a blanket over such a large group like this and call it good.

Actually, this is a fallacy promoted by some of the fats rights groups. NO one who is overweight is healthy. Not a one. They all have greatly diminished functional residual capacities. They all desaturate their oxygen levels at the drop of a hat, which is a problem since most have sleep apnea. Virtually none of them can climb three flights of stairs without being significantly short of breath. If they develop any kind of medical disorder, every single medical test is more difficult--from drawing blood, to fitting them into CT or MRI scanners, or even doing a good physical exam.

ALL overweight people are unhealthy. Some with normal BMIs are unhealthy also, but they have cut out a significant number of risk factors.

Obesity is the number 1 health problem in America. Sadly, it takes an affluent society to create a problem where the poor and impoverished are the most obese.

What about smokers? Why aren't they penalized as well? If you start this type of policy you have to include other "habits". Funny that if you drink or do drugs they have to send you to rehab and you keep your job.

You must be one of those people who is overweight and unwilling to examine your own personal habits. This policy suggests that ALL state employess be screened, not just the ones whom others consider "fat". So the "skinny" people with health problems would be identified. Since when is weight an indicator of health? As an employee ( and a taxpayer) of the state of Arizona, I would be GRATEFUL to the aformentioned bureaucrats (if my state only had brave ones like good ole' Alabama) who are trying to save taxpayers' money by encouraging healthy lifestyles among its own employees.

I couldnt agree more. Overweight and Obese are two different things. If you are 5'5 and weigh 280lbs, its time to do something about it. Not only would your health improve, but you would feel better too.

Did you actually READ the article? Because it says they are charging for smoking already and they have had some success in getting people to quit. I think this is a great idea. They are talking about obesity, not just being a little overweight.

The company I work for pays 75% of our health care premiums, except that for smokers they pay 50%. I'm a smoker(for now)and I accept that as a penalty for my behavior. Some recent studies have shown that skinny smokers live longer that fat non smokers. I think that's more than fair to have them pay more also.

Realistically, $25 a month isn't even worth mentioning unless one is a habitual whiner.

Bad drivers pay more for auto insurance.

You can't throw a blanket over such a large group

Not unless it's a biga$$ blanket.

I had a few word to say, fortunately, they were inadvertenly deleted

CYNSHINE, you are obviously one of those narrow-minded, ignorant individuals who know nothing about the struggles of those who are overweight. And before you comment, YES, I am overweight. But not because I'm "unwilling to examine [my] own personal habits." Who do you think you are? How dare you judge. You don't know anything about a person's habits or what the cause may be for their weight problem. And frankly, I am so tired of having to justify myself to people who just make blanket judgments about me, my lifestyle, my eating habits, etc. For the record, I don't think I could be thin if I stopped eating altogether. And, in fact, I'm nearly at that point. I eat so little now that it could be classified anorexic eating ... that is if you didn't know better by looking at me.

My problem started right at puberty when I went from being a skinny child to a plump, chubby teen almost overnight. For years my mother took me to doctor after doctor trying to figure out what happened and why I was unable to lose weight despite the fact that I ate so little and was fairly active. Not until I was 20 was it discovered I had a pituitary tumor that screwed up my metabolism and few other things. But by then, it was too late. I had already put on the pounds and they weren't goin anywhere. Even after surgery to remove the tumor, it made no difference. I stop gaining weight at an alarming rate, but it never came off again. And to this day, I struggle every day of my life to maintain. I have lost a few pounds here and there over the years but I always seem to bounce back to the same weight despite all efforts. Luckily, I stay pretty much the same weight at all times, but that doesn't make me feel any better. I mean, I still feel the stigma and I still hate to socialize because I feel like I'm always being judge -- by the likes of people like you CYNSHINE -- who want to cast aspersions on me because of my size.

So, a healthier lifestyle might help with the problem but it's not the absolute solution. But Alabama's idea is not the answer. It is discrimination because it is clear that they are penalizing a group of people that may or may not have any control over their situation. While I'm all for the healthcare community finding a solution (not a quick fix) to the growing pandemic of obesity, targeting people in such a negative way as Alamba's suggests is not a way to address the problem. And, as some other posters have pointed out, being overweight does not necessarily mean that person has all the other associated health issues that might come along with it. There are in fact many, many skinny people (and health nuts too) that have just as many (if not more) health issues that are associated with obesity. I, myself, do not have any of these. In fact, my cholesterol (good and bad) is right where it should be. I have no heart disease, type-2 diabetes, high blood pressure, or anything else. In spite of my weight, I'm healthier than many skinny people I know. I don't even get colds, and haven't had the flu or a serious cold in over 25 years.

So, STOP lumping us all into one category! And CYNSHINE, open your eyes and you mind. What's that biblical saying ... judge not lest ye be judged. Alabama need to think about that too.

I believe all the research has been done and it is plenty "sound". It is an undeniable fact that folks that are that much overweight have more serious health risks and they are just being asked to contribute to the cost of health insurance. I don't like it when my costs go up to pay for the people that are taking all the benefits out of the insurance claim pot. I do also believe that if you are one of those folks that is BMI of 35% plus and you are paying the $25 and you don't go to the doc or file a medical claim in any 1 year period, then you should get all that money returned. I find this very sad in so many ways because I lived in Montgomery for several years and I have never seen so many folks carrying that extra 20 or 30 or even 50 or more pounds. When are we going to wake up and realize that the food and the methods used and approved to grow it by both the FDA and USDA are killing us. What happened to eating right, healthy, small portions, mostly fruit and vegies, exercise and having a balance. This is not an epidemic because it is all self imposed.

There are so few of us that lead ideal lifestyles. If we are to charge smokers and the overweight additional fees for insurance, perhaps we should look harder at the rest of us. Stress has been proven to shorten our lives, shouldn't we charge an additional fee to all our workaholics...or force them into stress management programs. Alcohol use has yet to face the same scrutiny as tobacco use, yet we scrape its effect off the highways daily (in additon to the effect it has on the individual's body). We might even engage in the discussion about those who prefer not to practice "safe sex"; it's not just the spread of HIV/AIDS but a plethora of other STDs that require treatment. There are simply so many lifestyle choices that affect our health, where do we draw the line to avoid "discrimination"? Most doctors could tell you that a large percentage of our ills could be aided or avoided by lifestyle changes. With the majority of our citizens being overweight, I agree that something should be done. Would it not be better to invest in supportive programs rather than punitive ones?

Mev- You are the exception, not the rule.

while we are at it, why not jack-up the premimums on anyone who is involved in sports like track & field, football, rock climbing, skateboarding, weight lifting, boxing, and anything else that involves a "risk" of an "unnessary" sport injury.

anyone who drives a faster then needed car or climbs stairs to reach their appartment...
milk them all...

filed 6/8/00

U.S. SPORTS MEDICINE MARKET o 1.7 million knee arthroscopies in 1999 o 600,000 ACL injuries o 650,000 meniscal tears o 500,000 articular cartilage defects = 95,000 clinically significant = 40,000 repeat treatments

Personally, I agree that this action needs to be implemented. If it will start even 10% of the overweight employees to begin really studying and thinking about what they are consuming, then in the long run it will save us all money when they hit social security / medicare age.

Wow. A bunch of judgemental jack asses commenting here. Alabama is approaching a slippery slope and I suspect will find themselves in Federal Court.

First off; BMI is an inaccurate method of determining obesity. When I was competing in weight lifting and body building contests; running 1 - 3 miles on a given day and sported a body fat measurement that was very low; my BMI (due to muscle mass) was high. Was I obese? Not in the least. Would I have been "fined" under this stupid law? Yes.

Currently, I work out religiously and rigorously on a daily basis; eat healthfully and low volumes. I remain overweight. The cause: a serious genetic disease - managed for the most part via medication. When the disease advances; the medication needs adjustment and the symptoms worsen without warning.

Bottom line; if it were me being affected - $25/month or $1; I would sue the pants off these @!$%#s - all the way to the Supreme Court if needed. This "law" violates (at best) 2 Constitutional amendments.

MEV- thank you. People don't realize that there can also be medical reasons for gaining weight. Most of those people are narcissistic a-holes anyway. They're so quick to pass judgement.

As for Alabama and their decision- I'd be curious to see how this goes. The company I work for tries other programs to get their employees healthier and is trying to make us a smoke free workplace by 2009 but a large percentage of employees feel like the company is trying to run their lives. When we do participate in contests, the outcome is somewhat rigged and it makes people hesitant to participate in anything else.

I for one don't have insurance, don't want it and will never get it. I pay cash and get 10% discount for office appointments. Its none of my co-workers business what I do with my body or the business of any Americans (universal health care) and I like to keep it that way. We have an emergency fund and that's all I need. Too many control freaks to be giving them the right to my body no thank you!

My life is not a privilege its an unalienable right.

Hi Kfed,
I think this is all just a bunch of communisim in this country. yes, charge everyone for everything they do, be it chew gum, crack your nuckles, bite your nails. This here again is just another way, for the ins. companies to keep all of their money, and use all of ours.
A story on the news said, a small plane was taking a cancer patient to another hospital, and the plane went down, killing all 3 on board. That person thought they were dieing of cancer. But they did not. I think the ins. companies should charge pot smokers, and drunks. Seems most of the drunk drivers get caught about 10 times, then they kill someone,and it becomes known that they should have been taken off the roads about 9 times ago.
we all have our #, and when it comes up, we are going no matter whether we smoke, drink, lie, cheat, steal
Insurance companies, and all others who can, use any tactic to get more money out of all of us.

Bonnie- Huh? You don't think it's more communist for a group of healthy normal weight people to pay into a system where the benefits (medical treatment) go to those who are unhealthy? It seems a lot more democratic for people to be responsible for their own behavior and pay for that behavior. Why should _I— pay for it?

And let's face it- in some cases, your have some control over when your # is up. God may have wanted you to live until 105 years old, but if you are 1,000 pounds (for example), that is not going to happen b/c you are abusing your body, just as if you committed suicide. In that case, YOU control when your time is up.

Olivia do you honestly think that it is only overweight people with seriously medial issues?? Come on, I believe in trying to improve health and self esteem, but to have your workplace or your government stick their nose in yet another area where it does not belong is ludicrous. While they are so gung ho on weight why not start charging those that are underweight, there are just as much health risks with those that are anorexic and underweight as with overweight people.

What about those that pay more for insurance yet have few people on the policy - such as a single person who happens to earn a bit more than a co-worker - but that co-worker has family coverage for 8. That isn't fair either and the health of either worker isn't even a factor.

It's not fair that smokers keep getting hit with extra sales/use taxes either - so kFed not every non-smoker/chewer thinks that is a good idea.

A better idea would be to charge all employees for the insurance and offer incentive discounts for those who complete wellness programs with improved results regardless of how much or how little achieved.

Man, I cant wait for that Universal Health Care. People are acting this way now just wait till these people have single payer system and they throw everything at you as to why they can make you live the way they want you too. Just listen to some of these comments people actually truly believe they have the right to control other peoples lives.

I think Americans have forgotten we live in a free country.

Yes, what about those (such as a few of my coworkers) who have a six pack of beer just about every night after work? Certainly an unhealthy habit that could affect health, wouldn't you think?

Generally, I would not be against drug screening. However, many prescription meds show up during drug screenings that can tip a boss off that an employee has cancer, a psychiatric illness, HIV, etc. I have asked doctors whether a drug screening company, that an employer pays, can legally tell an employer that an employee is using prescription meds and tell what they are usually prescribed for. No one knows. All the law says is that an employer is not the discriminate.

" However, many prescription meds show up during drug screenings that can tip a boss off that an employee has cancer, a psychiatric illness, HIV, etc."

Not true......I work for a medical lab that does a lot of drug testing. All we are looking for on routine pre-employment or random drug screens are the illegal drugs such a cannabinoids, opitates, methamphethamine, etc. Prescription drugs do not show up on these tests and for employers to test specificially for them would be cost prohibitive. I don't know the legality of it either, but to test for legally prescribed drugs would probably violate privacy standards.

I completely agree with you! The entire point of insurance is that the entire group joins together, pays equal premiums, and the total of the contributions is there to support those who are unfortunate. It's NOT supposed to be there as a discriminatory authority or a punishing agent.

Case in point: 4 years ago I weighed 140 lbs. and was able to maintain that weight at the age of 50 by doing a highly active job for 8 hours a day and then walking my dog for at least 1 hour/day after work. I have a slow metabolic rate and needed to do that to battle middle-age spread.

I'd always had backaches, probably due to a not 100% straight spine, but rest, a good diet and a heating pad didn't help, nor did being arthritic, which is a chronic problem on both sides of my family. A sluggigh thyroid, arthritis, and a minor spinal deformity - not my fault, I was born that way.

As the pain level increased slowly, I had to move to a less active job, the length of dog walks decreased based on how far I could walk, and I started gaining weight. After 6 years it became so bad that I was unable to maintain my balance in the snow, became disabled, and had to quit working entirely because I was unable to walk to my car, even using a cane or walk up a flight of stairs to reach my desk. I was eventually diagnosed as diabetic, no doubt due to the weight gain because of inactivity.

Since I'm 5'4 and 200 lbs. now, the State of Alabama would have me paying more for insurance because a succession of brooding genetic problems resulted in this problem - since I don't overeat, and never did. Dieting has been a part of my life since I was a little girl. In Alabama, I could have continued to work (no snow), but I live not far from the Canadian border.

This is not due to my "poor choices" it's about genetics and unavoidable predispositions for several chronic conditions that seemed to exacerbate one another. The only loser here is me - and the way things work, it costs me more than the average person.

Each doctor I've talked to nods as I say these things, but under Alabama's plan, they apparently don't listen to explanations.

Yes, I cost insurance companies more than most people. I live on SSD and have to pay about $100 per more for supplemental insurance because Medicare doesn't cover much. My income has been reduced to less than half what it once was, and because of this, virtually everything in my life has changed. My Rx costs, once I hit "Medigap" are $500 per month - which I can not afford. Solution? I don't buy all the meds I need - there is nothing else I can do.

The entire health care system in this country is so befouled that it needs a complete revamping - starting with the insurance and drug companies. And unless and until genetic testing and correction is possible for these socially undesirable conditions, penalizing obesity and smoking and whatever they dream up next, is plainly and patently blatant discrimination.

Hi Nancy,
You are so right about this stuff. If your gay, charge more, etc. I think they need to drug test all welfare reciepents. If they are on drugs, they don't get welfare. That would save a fortune in tax money. One complex I know of, has mostly section 8 people, and the property manager told me, that most of them are on drugs. Of course they can't work, for the drugs they take. A good honest needy person who does none of that, cannot get help. Should we all get on drugs, and quit our jobs, so we can get welfare too?
Yes, when is it going to stop. Look how many people who have died of lung cancer, and never smoked a day in their life.
How many people are killed by drunk drivers, who never touched a drop of alchol?
Why don't we just turn over our entire pay checks to the gov, and say take what you must, but please leave us a few pennies for food.
Bonnie

Just to quote you, Bonnie:

"You are so right about this stuff. If your gay, charge more, etc. I think they need to drug test all welfare reciepents. If they are on drugs, they don't get welfare. That would save a fortune in tax money. One complex I know of, has mostly section 8 people, and the property manager told me, that most of them are on drugs. Of course they can't work, for the drugs they take."

Oh, Bonnie, I hope that these statements of yours are nothing more than sarcasm! Somehow I doubt it, though, because either you just fell off the "Idiot Wagon," or you just simply have sh** for brains!!!

This country is turning into a Dictatorship! I have been saying this for years and, slowly but surely, I have no doubt that our freedoms will all be washed down the drain! It's juat a matter of time, people!

Nancy - I see you grasp the slippery slope we stand on. Happily; this series of "laws" will find those enforcing them in Federal Court before too long. The Constitution protects the rights of individuals and discrimination laws protect groups targeted by bigots.

So; we will have the weekly weigh in at work? Can't get to your desk before stepping on the scale and getting your forehead stamped. Good Lord! How Draconian is this going to get before people say "No more!"?

And yes, there was a story just the other day that about half of obese people are actually as heart-healthy as slimmer people

Could you give us a link to that story please?

Jorge 437743 is right - this is Communism. And Getoutandstayout is also right - this is also Socialism. Our Freedom's are eroding. For those who think this is a good idea - what comes around goes around. Pretty soon they'll fine or penalize something you really enjoy and then you will be complaining. Give 'em an inch, they'll take a mile.

Communism? I don't think so. Asking people to pay for their choices is the opposite of communism. Asking me to pay for someone else's poor lifestyle choices sounds like communism. I'm already penalized for my choices: I have 4 children and I paid for them - should society have stepped up and taken on some of their expenses? I also pay for a gym membership, a bicycle, and other exercise equipment. I eat very little, because if I eat hardly anything I gain weight. Why should I also have to pay additional insurance for someone who doesn't wish to eat within sensible limits?

Thank you Teresa. Everyone is still free to eat all the garbage they want. But I don't want to pay for all of the medical conditions that arise as a result of those freedoms. Making me PAY for a whole group of obese people is more of a communist idea.

But that's just it. The BMI is no indication of health. A proper skinfold test identifying body fat versus Lean mass is a truer indicator, but rather than that they use a well known inaccurate indicator. Skinny does not equal healthy. I saw no indication that the skinny employees are being screened for cholesterol or blood pressure. Did I miss it?
Are they taking health factors such as thyroid and diabetes into account? Do pregnant women qualify as fat too? Laugh all you want, there are more factors in obesity then poor choices. Trying to bottom line it and punish it with bad science is profiling, nothing more nothing less.

Skinny does not equal healthy. I saw no indication that the skinny employees are being screened for cholesterol or blood pressure. Did I miss it?

How very true. If they're going to have a program like this, then I say mandatory physicals for all. I may be overweight but my blood pressure is normal, cholesterol is low, and my heart is in good shape. My little brother is a beanpole and his blood pressure is through the roof. Size is not an indicator of problems.

Pardon me, but I think the current administration has robbed us of not a few of our so dearly loved freedoms already, "socialist in the whitehouse" not withstanding...

You can't possibly be suggesting that Obama is going to bring more individual freedom to people. If you are, then you don't know squat about your beloved messiah candidate. Do some research on the guy, puhleeeese. All one has to do is look at where he stands on the issues. The constitution is nothing but a door mat to this guy.

Secondly, you eroneously belive that I support the Bush campaign. WRONG! He did exactly opposite of the platform that he ran on before getting elected. As it stands now, I feel he will go down in history as the worst president in our history, unless of course Obama gets elected, then he will go down as the second worst.

I'm a Ron Paul/Bob Barr guy. You seriously don't want to get into an argument about the rape and pillaging of our constitution if your either an Obama or McCain fan.

No--the state does not dictate how much a person can weigh, you are free to get as fat and sassy as you please. The issue is that those who are obese cost all of us more money, therefore We The People in order to form a more equable union, are asking that we not carry the burden of your choice to be obese. Thus, really, your idea that I could get as fat as I want, and then require that the state health care pay for my health care is far more socialist than the system that says, you the individual are free to do as you damn well please, just do it on your own dime!!!

"Lets focus on other things such a poverty and affordable housing" If obese people instead of spending so much money on junk food give it to charity i'm pretty sure we can resolve those problems in a matter of hours.

Not all obesity is a choice or even genes. There are thyroid issues, chemical imbalances, etc. Low testosterone, which is becoming more and more prevalent in American males allows the build up of fat in the male body. You can exercise all you want with that condition and you will not lose the weight. Why does this phenomenon exist? The environment is the answer. Governments, even more are banning bottled water in the work place, encouraging us to drink from the tap; and the tap water contains traces of estrogen, lead, and other things you don't want to consume either as a man or a women. In a low testosterone male, the fat build up accompanies a higher than normal level of estrogen which encourages fat build up and discourages muscle build. As the oversight of the environment belongs to the government, might those who have that condition sue the government for the added premium amount and while they are at it, sue for the costs of infertility which most insurances won't pay either?

Yeah, next they'll slap a tax on us for other risky behaviour like riding a horse or a motorcycle.

Remind me to take Alabama off my list of places to visit. While I agree that "obesity" is a problem in america, I don't agree with such Draconian measures to deal with it.

You know, folks, the last country that had these rules (smoking bans, health programs that promoted fitness and frowned upon obesity, etc....) ended up in hot water in 1945 courtesy of the Allies. I'm sure you all are smart enough to know which country/government I mean. The one with the pretty red, white and black flags with the swastika. *wink nod*

And if they start taxing arbitrary things, how about a stupid tax? Anyone under the IQ of 140 gets an additional tax. And penalties if you do something boneheaded. That should take care of Congress and the House of Reps right quick.

You are right! Anorexia also causes a myriad of health problems, but since it is considered a "disease," unlike obesity which is considered a "lifestyle choice."

Yes, why are tanning salons still so popular? A tan from the sun at least provides some Vitamin D--why doesn't Alabama punish all it's fake sun worshippers, too?

Uh, bubba............holding up NFL players as examples of health probably isn't a good plan. They exercize for 5 seconds, then take a 25 second break, then another 5 seconds.....then a break for commercial. It'd be pretty funny to see how many NFL players could survive rugby.

Mentioning your lean mass of 190 would be a lot more descriptive if you mentioned your height.

Thank you. This is the point I was going to make. If they're going to insist on this policy, do *not* base the policy on BMI. The BMI takes only one's height and weight into account and does not account for body fat percentage or any number of other factors. I also read recently that the BMI gets increasingly inaccurate the taller one is. (To use myself as an example, over the past year I have made huge changes in how I eat and how much exercise I do; the number on the scale hasn't changed as fast as I'd like - ergo, my BMI hasn't changed much - but I'm going down through clothing sizes at an encouraging rate.)

As others have said, rewarding those who adopt healthier habits would be kinder and more motivating than punishing those who don't (or can't).

Why not charge *all* the employees $25/month, and start taking it off for those who stop drinking, join a gym, quite smoking, buy a hands-free cell phone kit, or do anything that reduces their individual risk factors, regardless of what they are? Why only discriminate against a couple of select groups?

"They push McDonalds, Burger King etc"

So.. you should be a sheep and eat this crap? Don't you have a brain? 30 years ago you were lucky to see a HANDFULL of chubby kids/adults in a month. Now you can't go outside for 1 minute without seeing a herd of lumbering moms/dads/kids waddling down the street. It has nothing to do with government, discrimination, etc. and everything to do with taking the easy way out. Go to the grocery store, buy decent food, eat it, and get some exercise!

Everyone is missing the point .The insurance company creates these fees for a group of people not to save money but to make money. They control the cost of health care because they don't pay for anything they can get away with. Just ask your doctor what he receives on a office call. What you pay more than covers what you receive .THEY are looking for ways not to cover things and make money at the same time. Every health problem a over weight person can have you can too. What about the people that pay but don't see a doctor but once a year where does that money go? Our food and water is full of things that cause a lot of health problems. Wouldn't it be better to fix these problems but then we wouldn't need insurance as much. The insurance company's are not on our side . They push things through and we get burned with no way out. They have the money and the laws on their side.Also what happened to the privicey act this is truly a invasioin of privicey. Do you want everyone to know everything about your health. This should be stopped and the insurance companys should be regulated on what they can and cannot do. Just think how much you have to pay by law for insruance. Our health is our concern no one pays for another person .Keep our freedom you are giving it away everytime someone come up with a do good idea . Let us mind our own business and let everyone be themselves. By the way I am not over weight I just don't like giving my freedom away because of some do good plan that hurts everyone .

Anorexics DO NOT make up 50% of the population. 50% of the population is obese. Alabama is in the top 5 or 10 of obese states in the nation. Our state capital is in the number 2 slot for obese cities. The number of obese children in this country is pathetic!

Do you feel the children of this country have the right to eat whatever they want, whenever they want just like the fat adults do? The poor eating habits of the parents are being taught to their children. You want to know what is shameful? Its shameful that the gov't has to be the good parent and punish the grown up children for doing stupid things like only eating the desert at meal time and dumping their green beans.

Alabamians have a problem. This nation has a problem. This is a part of the solution. Piss or get off the pot. Excercise and eat right or pay your wimpy little $25/month to keep your bon bons.

So let me see, if you have inherited good genes, eat like a horse and don't gain weight, are thin but have high cholesterol or blood pressure due to genes your safe. Here comes socialism rearing its ugly head. Don't ride horses, motorcycles, do parachute jumps, jet ski, water ski, BMX , bungee jump , drink alcohol, take any drugs, have unsafe sex or a list of many, many unsafe things people choose to do and your insurance goes up. How about if you get caught driving drunk you pay for all your insurance? How about if your a police officer or fireman and your life is on the line everday, should you pay your life insurance. Wake up people first you watch them take your neighbors, then they come for you. Home of the free, land of the brave?

You are a prime example of what is wrong with "Americans in this age"

Well I'm in shape to for myself not for you to be pleased or disgusted,but if your that disgusted Im sure you would be welcome in Mexico,or even further south so you wouldn't have to look at us disgusting americans any longer.I'll even pay for a one way ticket

I have a friend who used to be an exotic dancer. She is beautiful, strong and very active. She has had two children in the last 10 years and although she eat anything she wanted before the kids and never gain an ounce, she is now obese. She doesn't over eat. She was put on a medication called Amitryptaline for back pain. After 18 months of taking these and gaining over 100 pounds she asked her doctor about her weight. Guess what his response was? "oh, didn't I tell you?" "This medication you are on makes you gain massive amounts of weight no matter how little you eat."
People like you judge other people without knowing anything about what you are spewing from your mouth. That is what is wrong with America today. Some people don't think before they speak. By the way, get back to me in 20 years when you are too fat to walk to YOUR mail box!!!

Here's a newsflash! I am a smoker and I am overweight, and guess what...I have a 100% clean fricking bill of health. Not 1 dang thing wrong with me. And you wanna know what else???? I am 100% happy with myself! I am not out to impress any of you, or our stupid socialist government! Oh and I am extremely active daily...have a gym membership, work and pay my taxes, oh and i am still overweight....oh and lets not forget I eat twice a day, no junk food....HMMMMMM maybe some of us are geared to be heavy no matter what we do.
But its all good, because soon our government will take away something of yours. And on that day I will LMFBO!!!!!

You are what is wrong with this country dumb ass.

Those who are members of these groups need to stand up; be counted and sue the @!$%# bigots responsible.

ITS NOT A FRACKING CHOICE FOR SOME OF US YOU ^$*#%^ %#^#$!!!! So God blessed you with normal genes, great for you. Dieting and food choice works. Well guess what, your one of the lucky ones. There are many people who make the choice to eat too much and not excericise, but there are a lot of people who just do not have the choice to NOT be overwheight. $%#$!!! Some people just piss me off and your one of em.

I am so sick of the genetics argument. If the genetic argument were as pervasive as obese people try to argue, then why didn't we have millions of fat people 100 years ago??

Getoutandstayout- get off your couch and stay off it... eat healthy foods in healthy proportions, exercise, drink water. Stay away from fast food, convenience food, meat with every meal, and your television and YOU WILL LOSE WEIGHT! I'm so sick of fat people acting like victims, it's disgusting and you should be ashamed of yourself!
There is NO excuse for morbid obesity! If it is a disease, it is a disease of gluttony. People in this world are starving while you are sitting on your ass getting fatter and complaining because you will have to spend $50 less a month on food! UGH, how disgusting!

You and your counterpart "OLIVIA" are showing your ignorance. Why don't you just shut up or do some research before you spew your hate. And you can also get back to me in 20 years when something dramatic happens in your life to cause you to gain weight because you are in a wheelchair or in chronic pain. You stupid twit!!!!

I am ignorant b/c I think people hide behind the genetics argument? How about you answer my question? If it's all genetics, then why wasn't there an obesity epidemic 100 years ago? Genetics have not varied so drastically in the last 100 years that you should have millions of obese adults. And if you are in a wheelchair and have chronic pain, I feel for you. But there are millions who are not in wheelchairs who are obese because they overeat and do not exercise. Period.

First of all Jaxeygirl, I don't have the option of getting off my couch and excersizing. I have health problems such as degenerative nerve atrophy and mitochondrial issues due to a disease. But hey, thanks for being a real #!^(& to those who are already screwed due to health illnesses.

2nd, my 135 lb wife eats more than I do.

3rd, this isn't about morbid obesity. Its about having a BMI that is over 30+, which is considered 'obese'. Also, if I weighed the what my hieght weight proportion table says I should weigh, I'd be anorexic.

So much for your 'no' exscuse theory. Must be nice to live in your own little fantasy world where everything is sunshine and peaches. I bet your the kind of person who goes out of their way not to come in contact with people who are ill or less fortunate than you for fear of ruining your 'picturesque' world.

Why are people having more genetic and medical issues with being overweight? I'll tell you one set of reasons - the scientifically enhanced and genetically modified foods we are pushing on people. How about the hormones pushed into cattle; chickens; pork etc.

Why do we see 9 year olds menstruating? Why do people eat 1/2 the calories of the 1950's and weigh more?

We have engineered ourselves into some of the issues we have today.