The "latest"

Recently, some employers have been threatening to fire people who don't stop smoking or who are obese. The reasoning has been that medical care for fatties and puffers is more expensive than for "normal" people. Apparently, not so.

LONDON (AP) The Netherlands National Institute for Public Health and the Environment (probably, by majority vote) has determined that, "If you live longer, then you cost the health care system more. . . Dutch researchers found that the health costs of thin and healthy people in adulthood are higher than those of either fat people or smokers.

"The researchers found that from ages 20 to 56 [working age], obese people racked up the highest health costs. BUT [my caps] because both the smokers and obese people died sooner than the healthy group, it cost less to treat them in the long run."

Before you say ah- ha, "On average, healthy people lived 84 years. Smokers lived about 77 years, and obese people lived about 80 years," so that's a full working career.

"Ultimately, the thin and healthy group cost the most, about $417,000, from age 20 on. The cost of care for obese people was $371,000, and for smokers, $326,000."

Science strikes again.


EXTRA: By the way, Lent starts today. I am giving up prune whip, as usual.