Does smoking and obesity really cost us?

9 Reader Comments

I found the word “cost” interesting in last week’s headline. To me that implies they took into account all of the known financial gains, subtracted all of the known the “costs”, and the net result was a negative number e.g. the Cost.

I wonder if that’s really the case.

There’s a lot of money spent on cigs and food and the cigs raise a lot of money in taxes.

I just don’t know, but I’d like to see some real numbers besides just health care costs.

This reminds me of a story about a group that was funded by the UK to use a computer model to figure out how to best spend their transportation dollars, in order to see what was most cost effective. Supposably, the model told them to spend nothing on crosswalks, since mostly old people are hit by cars and they’re an economic debit.

Supposably, the model told them to spend nothing on crosswalks, since mostly old people are hit by cars and they’re an economic debit.

That would totally ruin all the tourist pics as they’re crossing Abbey Road.

No doubt the report will also conclude that global thermonucular war is good, as living people are sooo costly.

No doubt the report will also conclude that global thermonucular war is good

Hey Bob, have you read my ground-breaking report on the use of a coordinated detonation of a few thousand nuclear warheads to stop global warming in its tracks? The nuclear winter affect, you see. I’m so bleeping brilliant.

Yes, you are a genius Maz. Why didn’t I ever come up with that sweet plan.

Achieves two goals with one bullet:

1) Stops global warming
2) reduces nuclear weapons (=Peace on Earth)

Of course, this is the Soviet commie speaking

“use of a coordinated detonation of a few thousand nuclear warheads”

Can I pick the spot? Cause I got a few ideas….

FLORIDA

Fatnhappy Feb 6 2008
1:11 pm

I can see it now ditch the corporate wellness programs, cancel
the insurance discounts for loosing weight and quiting smoking…
Get rid of the “health food” in the cafeteria…

Bring on the junk food, bring in the ciggie vending machines,
give everyone a bonus for NOT exercising….

Get rid of em fast and save megabucks!

Healthy long lived employees have a negative impact on corporate profits!