Fat Tax

Should fat people have to pay more for health care? While this question doesn't make much sense with our Canadian health care system, it is a question that has relevance with our southern neighbors. And, in fact, this question has been posed by a clinic in Cleveland (see: Tough Love for the Fatties). The clinic in question has already stopped hiring smokers as part of their wellness initiative (something that also wouldn't fly in Canada).

But back to the question at hand: should the obese really have to pay more for health care?

The answer, in my opinion, is an obvious one. While some are concerned with fairness and equality, I would argue that it is actually unfair for a healthy, active, non-obese individual (who has less risk for several diseases) to pay the same amount for health care as a fat blob who is sedentary and consumes more calories than they burn on a daily basis.

Being obese increases an idividual's risk for diabetes (type II), high blood pressure, heart disease, certain cancers, gallbladder disease, deep vein thrombosis, arthritis, breathing problems... the list goes on (and on and on). A weight increase of 11-18 pounds actually raises a person's risk of developing type II diabetes to twice that of individuals who have not gained weight. So why are they paying the same for health care?

And I would like to retract my original statement: this issue does have relevance in Canada. Why are the healthy, active, non-obese paying the same amount in tax dollars towards health care as our gluttonous counterparts? Why am I paying for Sir Eat-a-Lot to be able to abuse the health care system because he couldn't (wouldn't) put down the twinkie?

I think Cleveland has a point.