Editor’s Viewpoint: He ain’t heavy, he’s my overweight brother
Should you pay more for health insurance if you’re extra large? Before you answer that question, take a look down — and around, if necessary. If you find that you’re losing the battle of the bulge, then don’t be surprised if more than your doctor is weighing in on your poundage.
For example, the West Virginia Public Employees Insurance Agency Finance Board has proposed charging higher premiums to overweight public school and state employees. Even though the state’s governor is against the proposal, the board still is going to ask for public comment this month. If passed, the state would join North Carolina, which will begin charging its larger employees heftier rates for their insurance beginning in 2011.
Because fat people have become an entrée on the health care menu, the food eaten by our children is being addressed, too, in a new National Academy of Sciences’ Institute of Medicine study. The report identifies fast food restaurants among the culprits of childhood obesity and suggests regulating the distance between them and schools, the same way we restrict the proximity of liquor stores and child molesters to schools. However, if fast food joints should be further away from schools, then let’s turn that into something positive. Allow obese children longer lunch periods so they can walk to their favorite Burger Doodle. Maybe throw in a couple of bucks for a shake if they agree to jog back with a member of the track team.
But, their running may only compound the problem because runners have health issues, too. And, if we’re going to charge higher insurance premiums to overweight employees and runners based on the odds of health problems, we should consider the risk of injury by sport. Running and high-intensity aerobic dance have 11 injuries per 1,000 hours of activity, which is not as bad as basketball with 14 injuries or rugby with 30.
However, using people’s weight or sports activity to set health insurance rates is a step closer to using the results of genetic tests for susceptibility of inherited diseases for the same purpose. And, nobody wants to go there because that information also can lead to discrimination in hiring decisions.
Being overweight myself, I apologize for any irritation that has filtered through this editorial. Despite my concern for my girth, I try to keep a good sense of humor about it. For example, I’ve heard that inside every fat person is a skinny one. Mine must have died some time back. Probably suffocated.
What do you think? Tell us in the comment box below.