The share of Americans medically obese is projected to rise to almost 50% by 2035

[horseless carriage]

The human body has in-built mechanisms to protect itself from starvation, this makes weight loss difficult when food is easily afordable. Over the past few decades, our food environment has changed dramatically. Most notably, there has been a significant increase in processed foods which are widely available, calorie dense, nutrient poor, affordable and heavily promoted.

The desirable taste and textures of processed foods, combined with the appealing packaging and extensive marketing, are associated with brain appetitive control systems that increase appetite, food motivation, and food reward value and can result in increased food intake.
Typically, processed foods are also much cheaper than more nutritionally beneficial and unprocessed foods which further displaces healthy food consumption,

In high income countries, the obese must be provided with affordable access to specialised healthcare. It's a sad fact that obesity and smoking cost taxpayers billions in the treatment of those who inflict upon themselves the need for medical treatment. So many factors, is it any wonder why so many have excess weight?

 

[DaveA]

Never paid much, if any attention to the calorie counts or rushing to the gym to do a prescribed set of exercises. I was fortunate to work outside for most of my life and did bounce up and down on the weight scale. Been 50 lbs. or so over the "ideal" weight for my height but never went overboard trying to correct it.

Wife and I did walk a bit when in Maine and Florida for a few months each year but not to reach some "number. At least, as of today (never know what tomorrow will bring) we're in the range of where we should be guess. I should mention - - -we've never been big "eat out" folks and my wife's been a wonderful cook.

We met in our late teens and are 92 and 89. Did we miss something, not chasing weight and calories or spending money at the gym?

 

[Sunkist]

Never paid much, if any attention to the calorie counts or rushing to the gym to do a prescribed set of exercises. I was fortunate to work outside for most of my life and did bounce up and down on the weight scale. Been 50 lbs. or so over the "ideal" weight for my height but never went overboard trying to correct it.

Wife and I did walk a bit when in Maine and Florida for a few months each year but not to reach some "number. At least, as of today (never know what tomorrow will bring) we're in the range of where we should be guess. I should mention - - -we've never been big "eat out" folks and my wife's been a wonderful cook.

Did I miss something, not chasing weight and calories or spending money at the gym?

You probably missed a lot of unnecessary aggravation, costs, and exhaustion from not chasing all of the fads..
and probably ended up healthier than people who took the other approaches.

 

[Della]

Long term data says about 90% of people regain most of the weight they lose, with about two-thirds regaining more than they lost within four to five years. Did they all lack discipline? Did they all fail to learn to think in a different way? Did they not learn about calories in ninth grade health class?

It's really nobody's business what other people weigh. Overweight people and smokers may cost a little more in doctor's visits, but cheer up, we die sooner and save the rest of you years of social security.

 

[MoBeans]

Obesity, It ain't what it used to be

In my ongoing battle against Sleep Apnea (which I am winning) I have had to make some lifestyle changes. My proudest achievement was to lose the 25 pounds required to graduate from obese to merely overweight on the BMI scale. That joy lasted less than a day when I read that the definition of obesity is changing. Under the new definition I would be considered "anthropometric-only obese", aka... still obese.

In 2025, new definitions for obesity were proposed as either...

(1) BMI above the traditional obesity threshold (>30) plus at least one elevated anthropometric measure - or - BMI greater than 40 (aka BMI-plus-anthropometric obesity) or

(2) At least two elevated anthropometric measures with BMI below the traditional obesity threshold (<30) (aka anthropometric-only obesity).

The definition is a proposal, and no country has yet officially adopted it but some are in the process. It looks like it will eventually become the new standard. At least 76 organizations have endorsed the new guidelines, including the American Heart Association and The Obesity Society. Bunch of skinny people no doubt.

There was a study done on 300,000 adults to determine the implications of the new definition for clinical practice and public policy. They found the obesity rate of the group skyrocket to 69%, up from 43% under the BMI-only definition. An astounding 60% increase. Obesity rates vary by factors such as sex, race, and especially age. Nearly 80% of people in the study over 70 would now be considered obese, compared to 55% when using only the BMI definition, which represents a 45% increase. Yikes.

Just when I thought I was out, they pull me back in!

Study Indicates Dramatic Increase in Percentage of U.S. Adults Who Meet New Definition of Obesity | Mass General Brigham

 

[seadoug]

I'm probably going to get burned for this, but I think some of this has to do with the differing cultural makeup of our country as well. Hubs and I frequently walk around a mall that is mostly Hispanic and many of the shoppers seem to be overweight. Even some of the low-end stores have plus-sized mannequins because that is their target audience.

I had a partner who was Cuban when I was in my 20s and I used to visit his parents. His mother would serve red meat, rice and beans and was always amazed that I preferred fish, salad or vegetables. She always told him I was too thin and needed to eat more. I still visit Miami and things like steamed vegetables aren't available in a true Cuban restaurant. That would be skirt steak, fried plantains, fried yucca, etc. If you are interested, here is a report on obesity in Hispanics.

• In 2024, Hispanic/Latino adults were 12% more likely than U.S. adults overall to have obesity.
• In 2023, Hispanic/Latino high school boys were 35% more likely, and girls were 4% more likely, than their peers to have obesity.

https://minorityhealth.hhs.gov/obesity-and-hispaniclatino-americans

That's not to say there aren't plenty of non-Hispanic people who are obese, but many seem to reside in more rural areas. This may also come down to the inability to buy healthy foods for all cultures. I imagine this has become even more exacerbated due to the current high costs of food.

 

[seadoug]

exactly , as we were...Ok we were young in our 20's most of here.... but even so... our parents were slim..., as were our grandparents.. well at least mine were. I never knew a fat child, no-one at school was overweight... The only person I knew who was overweight was a friend of my mothers, whom she met in hopsital when she was a patient and they became fast friends ..that lady had thyroid problems.. but other than that, growing up, I never met a fat person..

I remember my father who was stocky built man, no fat on him at all.. boasting that he weighed the same in his 60's as he did when he was 19...

You didn't go to school with me. I was a chubby kid. I wanted so badly to wear bellbottoms but by the time they cut of my Husky jeans there was no "bell" left. Maybe it was because my mother was from the South and always served fatty foods. Fried okra, liver and onions, spaghetti. That's all she knew. I also ate lots of Swanson's TV dinners when my parents were out to dinner.

Then when I went through puberty, I took Dexatrim and drank sugar-free Nestea all the time, and when I graduated from High School at 5'8" I was 135 pounds. Can't say whether or not it was a healthy decision, but I've never been overweight since. It does take commitment. Now it is all about exercise and eating right.

 

[smiley]

let me guess absolute minimal daily exercise and fatty diets?

 

[Jules]

It’s not just fast food places that don’t provide healthy add ons. It’s rare to be served any or many vegetables with your entry. Back in the 60s when I worked in restaurants, it was the norm to serve two side vegetables and the meal might even have had a tossed salad too.

 

[Dr.Colosso]

Long term data says about 90% of people regain most of the weight they lose, with about two-thirds regaining more than they lost within four to five years. Did they all lack discipline? Did they all fail to learn to think in a different way? Did they not learn about calories in ninth grade health class?

It's really nobody's business what other people weigh. Overweight people and smokers may cost a little more in doctor's visits, but cheer up, we die sooner and save the rest of you years of social security.

A few years ago there was a discussion on a Dutch News forum with anti smokers getting mad at smokers, saying: just quit and you cost us money. It was about the insane prices of cigarettes because of taxes and that it's forbidden now everywhere. So to get back at them some said: Well you drink alcohol or you eat too much unhealthy stuff. Lets make alcohol and sugar also insane expensive. I thought that was a good get back at you point. What does the government do? They seriously got sugar taxes. No way!

It's nobody's business and people should stop making dumb comments. I thought the ones I got when I tried to stop smoking were the worst. One said: You look like a drug addict.
In church: Just stop. Just stop? LOL They're like that annoying psychiater. Stop it! Bob Newhart.

I do think it's evil how industries try to make people addicted on purpose.

When we divorced they pushed meds. I got prozac which had a suicide attempt as a side effect. Then oxazepam. A year later I heard it was not good and quit at once, but I had been 3 weeks in a mental hospital where they put me full with crazy pills and patients there were self medicating with pot and smoke.

I started to smoke there at 40. Had never smoked in my life. Smoked only 2 years. I had kept smoking to get rid of the oxazepam. I got used to calming myself down with them. So I replaced it with nicotin chewing gum. Filthy and costs a fortune. After 12 or more years I got free help from free healthcare, just a few talks through the phone with a coach and free nicotin patches. Then I could finally stop.

I was extremely thin and thought: well I can easily gain 5 kilo. Who cares. So I took candy instead of chewing gum.
It was a bit the same to get rid of that. They make that stuff to get you addicted. Oh yes how I could finally stop smoking was that I saw that you make new dopamin receptors that keep screaming for nicotin and when you quit they die. I had the idea that it worked the same with candy. It felt like all these additives and sugar made more screaming receptors too.

 

[horseless carriage]

It's really nobody's business what other people weigh. Overweight people and smokers may cost a little more in doctor's visits, but cheer up, we die sooner and save the rest of you years of social security.

While the sentiment that one's body is a private, personal matter is understandable, a compelling, objective argument exists for why individual weight is of profound importance to the collective society. This perspective does not stem from a desire to shame, but from a recognition of the interconnectedness of public health, economics, and community well-being.

Individual health, particularly in the context of rising obesity rates, is not a vacuum. When obesity becomes a major driver of chronic diseases, such as type 2 diabetes, cardiovascular disease, and certain cancers, it puts an immense strain on public healthcare systems. The resources used to treat preventable, weight-related conditions are finite; when they are heavily utilised, they are less available for others. In this way, personal health choices reverberate throughout the public infrastructure, affecting wait times, treatment quality, and the availability of care for all.

Personal weight has significant economic consequences that extend far beyond the individual. Obesity-related healthcare costs are estimated to cost the UK’s NHS over £6.5 billion per year, and global impacts are predicted to reach trillions. These costs are borne by taxpayers and insurers. Furthermore, productivity losses from increased absenteeism and premature mortality reduce the overall economic output of a nation, lowering GDP. Therefore, an overweight population affects the tax burden, the price of insurance, and the vitality of the workforce.

 

[Dr.Colosso]

AI-overzicht


Ultra-processed foods (UPFs) behave like cigarettes by triggering brain reward systems, causing addiction-like behaviors in up to 14% of adults and 12% of children
. High levels of sugar, salt, and fat create dopamine hits similar to nicotine, leading to cravings, compulsive consumption, and withdrawal-like symptoms.


Key Parallels Between Junk Food and Tobacco:

• Addiction Mechanism: Similar to nicotine, hyper-palatable foods (high fat/carb/sodium) hijack brain reward systems.
• Manufacturing Tactics: Food companies have historically used the same "Big Tobacco" techniques to engineer products for maximum, addictive consumption.

• Prevalence: Studies show a similar percentage of adults are addicted to ultra-processed foods (14%) as they are to alcohol (14%) and close to tobacco (18%).
• Health Impact: Like smoking, consistent consumption of these foods is linked to severe chronic health issues, with some experts calling for similar warning labels.

• Behavioral Dependence: Many people report needing these foods to cope with stress or emotions, treating them as crutches similar to smoking.

While a single serving of junk food does not contain the same level of acute carcinogens as a cigarette, the long-term, addictive, and health-damaging effects are remarkably similar, leading many researchers to classify it as a form of food addiction.

 

[horseless carriage]

AI-overzicht


Ultra-processed foods (UPFs) behave like cigarettes by triggering brain reward systems, causing addiction-like behaviors in up to 14% of adults and 12% of children
. High levels of sugar, salt, and fat create dopamine hits similar to nicotine, leading to cravings, compulsive consumption, and withdrawal-like symptoms.


Key Parallels Between Junk Food and Tobacco:

• Addiction Mechanism: Similar to nicotine, hyper-palatable foods (high fat/carb/sodium) hijack brain reward systems.
• Manufacturing Tactics: Food companies have historically used the same "Big Tobacco" techniques to engineer products for maximum, addictive consumption.

• Prevalence: Studies show a similar percentage of adults are addicted to ultra-processed foods (14%) as they are to alcohol (14%) and close to tobacco (18%).
• Health Impact: Like smoking, consistent consumption of these foods is linked to severe chronic health issues, with some experts calling for similar warning labels.

• Behavioral Dependence: Many people report needing these foods to cope with stress or emotions, treating them as crutches similar to smoking.

While a single serving of junk food does not contain the same level of acute carcinogens as a cigarette, the long-term, addictive, and health-damaging effects are remarkably similar, leading many researchers to classify it as a form of food addiction.

Five years (and, in the case of the UK, up to nine years post-war) of food rationing during World War II had significant long-term, largely positive effects on the physical health of the populace, alongside lasting cultural and psychological impacts. While it caused monotonous diets, it forced a reduction in sugar and fat intake, ultimately leading to a healthier population with improved life expectancy, lower infant mortality and a lower prevalence of obesity.

 

[Dr.Colosso]

-

 

[GoodEnuff]

that's probably what doctors would deem the ideal weight for your height... do you think ?

I don't know. I'm okay with it but keeping it off is always a battle.

 

[Della]

While the sentiment that one's body is a private, personal matter is understandable, a compelling, objective argument exists for why individual weight is of profound importance to the collective society. This perspective does not stem from a desire to shame, but from a recognition of the interconnectedness of public health, economics, and community well-being.

Individual health, particularly in the context of rising obesity rates, is not a vacuum. When obesity becomes a major driver of chronic diseases, such as type 2 diabetes, cardiovascular disease, and certain cancers, it puts an immense strain on public healthcare systems. The resources used to treat preventable, weight-related conditions are finite; when they are heavily utilised, they are less available for others. In this way, personal health choices reverberate throughout the public infrastructure, affecting wait times, treatment quality, and the availability of care for all.

Personal weight has significant economic consequences that extend far beyond the individual. Obesity-related healthcare costs are estimated to cost the UK’s NHS over £6.5 billion per year, and global impacts are predicted to reach trillions. These costs are borne by taxpayers and insurers. Furthermore, productivity losses from increased absenteeism and premature mortality reduce the overall economic output of a nation, lowering GDP. Therefore, an overweight population affects the tax burden, the price of insurance, and the vitality of the workforce.

All true, but did anyone put those numbers against the many government costs of people who are alive vs dead. Obese people and smokers do die sooner. So the thin non-smoker who lives to be ninety is going to have five years of costs to the government of social security, use of utilities, and heath care. By the way about 25% of the average person's lifetime healthcare cost is in their final year. That is the same for everyone even those who have been healthy all their lives.

When I was a smoker I once sat in a church while a woman proudly stated. "The only good thing about smokers is that they die young."

Where is the self respect?

I'm glad my self-respect doesn't depend on a number on a scale.

 

[Tazx]

All true, but did anyone put those numbers against the many government costs of people who are alive vs dead. Obese people and smokers do die sooner. So the thin non-smoker who lives to be ninety is going to have five years of costs to the government of social security, use of utilities, and heath care. By the way about 25% of the average person's lifetime healthcare cost is in their final year. That is the same for everyone even those who have been healthy all their lives.

When I was a smoker I once sat in a church while a woman proudly stated. "The only good thing about smokers is that they die young."

I'm glad my self-respect doesn't depend on a number on a scale.

Well, I don't even know the number as I do not measure my self worth by a scale. If I can run 5k uphill without medical assistance (lol), and go to the gym 5 days a week and see the results in such as that I don't take any medications, have no medical conditions, havent been to a doctor in 10 years (minus yearly checkups), have no intestinal, stomach, heart or lung issues...That's how I measure my self worth. I am living my best life and the fact that I can do what I did in my 20's and 30's still in my 50's, I consider that a good measure of my self worth.

And yes I say thats self respect. I respect myself enough to care what I eat, how I live so that I may live as healthy for as long as I can. If I live to 85, but am living good up until the last year, I consider that a win.

And your 25 of healthcare cost are the same for healthy or sick people is a fallacy.

According to US health stats;

Expenditure Trends: In 2023, the U.S. health care spending reached approximately $4.9 trillion, rising by 7.5%. The acute medical needs of sick individuals drive a large portion of these expenses due to the frequency and costs associated with their health care services.

Chronic Conditions: Chronic diseases are leading drivers of health care costs, accounting for a large majority of the total expenses. Conditions like heart disease and cancer not only require considerable medical attention but also contribute to productivity losses and increased disability.

Utilization Patterns: Sick individuals are more likely to delay or forgo care due to cost constraints. A significant portion of these individuals report worsening health conditions due to delayed care.

Financial Vulnerability: Many individuals with chronic conditions incur substantial medical debt, creating a cycle of health and financial insecurity. Almost half of U.S. adults claim difficulty in affording health care costs.

Healthy Individuals: On the other hand, those who are healthy spend significantly less on health care, focusing mainly on preventive services and routine check-ups.
In summary, health care costs for sick individuals vastly exceed those for healthy individuals, highlighting the economic burden of chronic diseases on both individuals and the broader health care system.

Not sure where in the world you got that info from, nor how you would even think that makes any sense.

 

[Jeni]

when I think of impact of obesity in healthcare I see it from another perspective.
A neighbor went to school because a respiratory therapist a great job for her as she needed a solid income after her divorce. She loved her job. One day while treating a very obese patient, they stumbled and fell on her or even those who try to catch a person. her injuries of a torn rotator cuff, limited movement needed and ended her career.
She was forced to find other employment. along with a partial disability check.

This is when I saw a study that workplace injuries in treating obese, example lift or brace from a fall etc. are among the top workplace and sometimes career ending injuries for medical staff.
That is an unintended medical impact of obesity many do not seem to know or care about.

 

[Dr.Colosso]

When I was a smoker I once sat in a church while a woman proudly stated. "The only good thing about smokers is that they die young."

Wow. An Australian preacher once said that there was a man and one day he went to a church and got saved and he was so happy that he took a cigarette when he came out of the building. A woman smashed it out of his mouth and told him he may not smoke and it's a grave sin or an abomination or something. And that preacher saw it and picked the cigarette up from the floor and put it back in his mouth and he said that if he had not done that he would have never set foot in a church again.

 

[Dr.Colosso]

-

 

[Tazx]

when I think of impact of obesity in healthcare I see it from another perspective.
A neighbor went to school because a respiratory therapist a great job for her as she needed a solid income after her divorce. She loved her job. One day while treating a very obese patient, they stumbled and fell on her or even those who try to catch a person. her injuries of a torn rotator cuff, limited movement needed and ended her career.
She was forced to find other employment. along with a partial disability check.

This is when I saw a study that workplace injuries in treating obese, example lift or brace from a fall etc. are among the top workplace and sometimes career ending injuries for medical staff.
That is an unintended medical impact of obesity many do not seem to know or care about.

Never thought about the caregiver aspect of dealing with a heavier person. Thanks.

 

[Dr.Colosso]

Well, I don't even know the number as I do not measure my self worth by a scale. If I can run 5k uphill without medical assistance (lol), and go to the gym 5 days a week and see the results in such as that I don't take any medications, have no medical conditions, havent been to a doctor in 10 years (minus yearly checkups), have no intestinal, stomach, heart or lung issues...That's how I measure my self worth. I am living my best life and the fact that I can do what I did in my 20's and 30's still in my 50's, I consider that a good measure of my self worth.

And yes I say thats self respect. I respect myself enough to care what I eat, how I live so that I may live as healthy for as long as I can. If I live to 85, but am living good up until the last year, I consider that a win.

And your 25 of healthcare cost are the same for healthy or sick people is a fallacy.

According to US health stats;

Expenditure Trends: In 2023, the U.S. health care spending reached approximately $4.9 trillion, rising by 7.5%. The acute medical needs of sick individuals drive a large portion of these expenses due to the frequency and costs associated with their health care services.

Chronic Conditions: Chronic diseases are leading drivers of health care costs, accounting for a large majority of the total expenses. Conditions like heart disease and cancer not only require considerable medical attention but also contribute to productivity losses and increased disability.

Utilization Patterns: Sick individuals are more likely to delay or forgo care due to cost constraints. A significant portion of these individuals report worsening health conditions due to delayed care.

Financial Vulnerability: Many individuals with chronic conditions incur substantial medical debt, creating a cycle of health and financial insecurity. Almost half of U.S. adults claim difficulty in affording health care costs.

Healthy Individuals: On the other hand, those who are healthy spend significantly less on health care, focusing mainly on preventive services and routine check-ups.
In summary, health care costs for sick individuals vastly exceed those for healthy individuals, highlighting the economic burden of chronic diseases on both individuals and the broader health care system.

Not sure where in the world you got that info from, nor how you would even think that makes any sense.

My grandpa was very healthy and lived until 96 and his wife 100. Everyone over 67 in Holland gets AOW: money for old people and a pension they saved for, but that's say 1000 a month, not a total amount, so it's cheaper to kill people. They wanted to kill my dad. B word doc kept pushing my mother.

Another one said a year before he died when he was doing good and we took him out the whole year to the beach and parks and such, she said to my brother: well what do you want? What do you mean? Shall we still give him food and water or not? What the..

You know what b doctor why don't you get paid less than a nurse who does do something useful. Pastors may not get a cent in Holland, but everyone is forced to pay the insane rich directors from hospitals while you never even use a doc. You have no choice. You must pay. Instead of killing people why not go after those antisocials?

 

[Della]

Well, I don't even know the number as I do not measure my self worth by a scale. If I can run 5k uphill without medical assistance (lol), and go to the gym 5 days a week and see the results in such as that I don't take any medications, have no medical conditions, havent been to a doctor in 10 years (minus yearly checkups), have no intestinal, stomach, heart or lung issues...That's how I measure my self worth. I am living my best life and the fact that I can do what I did in my 20's and 30's still in my 50's, I consider that a good measure of my self worth.

And yes I say thats self respect. I respect myself enough to care what I eat, how I live so that I may live as healthy for as long as I can. If I live to 85, but am living good up until the last year, I consider that a win.

And your 25 of healthcare cost are the same for healthy or sick people is a fallacy.

According to US health stats;

Expenditure Trends: In 2023, the U.S. health care spending reached approximately $4.9 trillion, rising by 7.5%. The acute medical needs of sick individuals drive a large portion of these expenses due to the frequency and costs associated with their health care services.

Chronic Conditions: Chronic diseases are leading drivers of health care costs, accounting for a large majority of the total expenses. Conditions like heart disease and cancer not only require considerable medical attention but also contribute to productivity losses and increased disability.

Utilization Patterns: Sick individuals are more likely to delay or forgo care due to cost constraints. A significant portion of these individuals report worsening health conditions due to delayed care.

Financial Vulnerability: Many individuals with chronic conditions incur substantial medical debt, creating a cycle of health and financial insecurity. Almost half of U.S. adults claim difficulty in affording health care costs.

Healthy Individuals: On the other hand, those who are healthy spend significantly less on health care, focusing mainly on preventive services and routine check-ups.
In summary, health care costs for sick individuals vastly exceed those for healthy individuals, highlighting the economic burden of chronic diseases on both individuals and the broader health care system.

Not sure where in the world you got that info from, nor how you would even think that makes any sense.

You did not read my post correctly.

By the way about 25% of the average person's lifetime healthcare cost is in their final year. That is the same for everyone even those who have been healthy all their lives.

"In their final year" is what you missed. So maybe you die at 100 from a series of strokes. During that final year a whole lot of money will be spent in hospital bills. Maybe the smoker dies of the same thing at age 90. His final yearly cost will also be about 25% of his total lifetime cost.
Look at this. You healthy types who live to be in your 90's cost way more in the end:


AI
The total cost of healthcare in the final year of life is exceptionally high, with studies indicating mean costs often exceeding $35,000–$40,000 (in 1996 dollars) for individuals 65 and older. For specific conditions like dementia, out-of-pocket costs alone can reach $66,000, while total, inflation-adjusted, end-of-life care is significantly higher, driven by hospital stays and intensive care.
Key Cost Factors for End-of-Life Care:

• Disease-Specific Costs: Research from The Lancet indicates that out-of-pocket expenses in the last 5 years of life are $66,000 for dementia, $38,000 for cancer, and $31,000 for heart disease.
• Age-Related Spending: AHA Trustee Services reports that Medicare spending peaks at age 96, with per capita spending for 96-year-olds at $16,145, more than double the spending for 70-year-olds ($7,566).

 

[IrishEyes]

I have a grand daughter aged 26 that is very very obese. Each time I see her, she sure looks to have gotten bigger.
I notice especially when she is wearing clothes I saw her in 3 months prior and the seams are screaming for release.

Here is how she lies to herself.
She says working out does no good, it makes her hungry. She is eating "Healthy" : like chicken, no breads
or sweets, more vegetables, etc. She has the wording down pat. But -- we stop for lunch at Culvers (my son's choice)
and she orders not one but 2, chicken sandwiches but no bread, then a side salad with again, not 1 but 2 or more dressing
helpings. The chicken is deep fried not grilled. She was seen eating a pickle dipped in chocolate with sprinkles on it another
time at a fair rather than a funnel cake. . So she coats her veggies in dressing or ice cream topping?

Spend a day out with someone swearing they eat Only the Right Things. No tricks or games and just watch the lies
they tell themselves.
I am not saying all obese people do as she does but I bet many do. If she does eat a regular meal she claims it's a
rare treat and she's rewarding herself for losing 2 lbs. She does clean the whole plate with extra dressing on the side.
In my 30's I began to add some pounds and my late hubby said to me "I have no idea why you are gaining weight because
at meal time you eat half of what me and the boys do.
Then it was like a slap in the face wake up call. I am a taster when I cook, so I began to jot down how many "taste"
bites I took during the cooking process. I tasted nearly a whole plate full of food before I even sat down for the meal.

I have fought the weight battle on and off all my life. I had to get to the point for myself that "Being thin is better
than the taste of anything I eat, and accepting Yes, you can eat that: just NOT all of it.

Food is everywhere, you can't escape it. Reasons to eat are more forthcoming than dreams coming true. Dreams
take work, consistency and tenacity, especially to those wanting to be thinner. It's just hard work.

 

[Tazx]

You did not read my post correctly.

"In their final year" is what you missed. So maybe you die at 100 from a series of strokes. During that final year a whole lot of money will be spent in hospital bills. Maybe the smoker dies of the same thing at age 90. His final yearly cost will also be about 25% of his total lifetime cost.
Look at this. You healthy types who live to be in your 90's cost way more in the end:


AI
The total cost of healthcare in the final year of life is exceptionally high, with studies indicating mean costs often exceeding $35,000–$40,000 (in 1996 dollars) for individuals 65 and older. For specific conditions like dementia, out-of-pocket costs alone can reach $66,000, while total, inflation-adjusted, end-of-life care is significantly higher, driven by hospital stays and intensive care.
Key Cost Factors for End-of-Life Care:

• Disease-Specific Costs: Research from The Lancet indicates that out-of-pocket expenses in the last 5 years of life are $66,000 for dementia, $38,000 for cancer, and $31,000 for heart disease.
• Age-Related Spending: AHA Trustee Services reports that Medicare spending peaks at age 96, with per capita spending for 96-year-olds at $16,145, more than double the spending for 70-year-olds ($7,566).

No I dont think you understand. What will my costs be if I live healthy until, lets say 85 then my last year I have a few issues by die of old age.
The unhealthy person may be sick for 10 years costing way more than I ever will.
Also, statistics show that people with good diets and exercise plans, when they get to 'their' time, typically stroke or heart attack out and done. If they get a disease it is kinda like wham bam and their done.
Long term sick individuals use a lot more resources and bed space than any healthy person.
Also, using AI is not exactly accurate. I used US medical stats. I would think they are pretty accurate, as ll those insurance providers care about is money after all!

Just this conversation alone...do you really think that a healthy person who exercises until the very end or at least until they can't anymore, eats good food, stays at a healthy weight, takes vitamins, and essentially has a good life...uses more resources than someone who has long term un-healthiness, sickness, is possibly obese or overweight, on medications, 3 or 4 or more visits a year maybe including hospitalization? You really believe that?

Then I gotta ask...why would you want to be unhealthy in the first place?

Plus heres another little nugget. Lets for arguments sake, say I will use more money in the end.
So if I dont use the medical system for lets say 40 years cause I don't need it, am I not entitled to my share of the taxes I have contributed to the publicly funded health system? I should just pay for 40 or 50 years or longer for others to use it, then those people who have used it 500 times, have the nerve to say the very system I help fund and didnt use I can not use or I use too much? That I use too much for the last 6 months or so? Is that how we work as a society?

Our yearly complete health checkups that we get, we pay out of pocket in private hospitals. It takes 4 or 5 days depending on what tests we request and we do not use any public funding at all. Thankfully here where we are its like 400 for me and about 500 for my wife (female specific is a bit more cost). But I am still paying my taxes in Canada like a good little boy and havent used it at all for 15 years to date. So whos using my share? If we go back in 10 years lets say, that would be 25 years of my taxes that we have not used 1 penny. If I use a lot the last year, I am go* da* entitled to do so. I've earned it.