groups

The Japanese are feeling the scourge of Western culture...fast food. The government is trying to head off obesity, type II diabetes, and cardio vascular disease. These problems were basically non-existent a few years ago.

They already have the bad habit of smoking, but because they are healthy in so many other way...the smoking hasn't been the problem.

I've been to Japan many times...a morbidly obese person is RARE. They do much walking and eat healthy. This allows them to drink heavily and smoke. Their bodies have only to clean up the smoking and alcohol and NOT the fried foods and white bread!

If you owned a business would you hire people who were out of shape and or who smoked? They would have to be outstanding performers because they are high cost employees due to more...sick days, medical bills (insurance premiums), missed time, and eventually life insurance. How much more do we pay for goods and services because of them?

Great observations Rad. Sure beats the comment I was going to make. All I was going to say was, I need to grow three inches taller while maintaining my waist size and I'll be perfect. :)

I saw this just before work and printed it and hung it on our wellness bulletin board. Sure generated lots of discussion.

You know..some companies are starting to do similar things here. In Alabama, the company where my husband's cousin works was recently bought out. The new company sent all employees for physicals and gave them instructions on diet and exercise programs. Has to do with the new insurance they are providing........guess they insure their employees based on their current fitness levels.....!

Yep, it's happening where I work to. My employer has reached an agreement in principle with many of its unions on a health risk assessment program for employees. While it is voluntary and details have yet to be worked out, if you do not participate you will have to pay a larger amount toward your employer provided health insurance. If you do not participate and you smoke, you pay an even larger amount toward your employer provided health insurance. Lots of grousing over this, but I have no problem with it whatsoever. As time goes by, they may expand this concept, perhaps increase the share of premiums obese employees will be required to pay. High health care costs affect all of us; I have no problem making those who do little for their health pay more for their insurance as they are inherently more at risk for incurring medical care costs. It's no different than charging someone with a poor driving record more for auto insurance. By the way gmw, love your avatar :)

My "company" is a government agency, Corrections, to be specific. I am always hearing about the post-retirement mortality rate of Corrections Officers (C.O.'s). In the locker room yesterday, someone threw out that it was one year past retirement, and used an anectdotal example. I think the truth is it's a little longer than that, but it's not good. We are unionized, and that may affect the benefits, as they are negotiated and not handed down by management edict. So many C.O.'s have unhealthy life styles, real smokin', drinkin', meat eatin' John Wayne types who thing soy is gay. I try to set them straight about fat and the ravages of it, but they don't care, it seems. I'm talking about guys my age and some younger. I think they will leave more money in the insurance pool for those of us who "choose life".
Then again, a good guard is a big guard, not necessarily mobile, but big is good. Lots of weightlifter football player types, not lots of skinny runner, bicyclist types. In a closed environment with no weapons, your body is your defense and your weapon. That's why weightlifting is so popular with inmates.
I say this not as a C.O. (minor skirmishes with the law in the distant past precluded that) but as someone who works among them all day long. I must add I have a lot of respect for most of them.

On the upside, there is a wellness center with cardio and weight machines and free weights and it is supported by member dues of only $3.00/mo. That's a real blessing when November hits and the rains starts here in Western Washington.

Just wondering what the height average is with a male waste at 33.5". I know I need to lose a little more but I am 6' tall and have a 48" chest down from 51" before my motorcycle accident. I don't think I had a waist that small since 8th grade?!?!?! I would be sooo happy to get back to 38"
Wolfie

I wouldn't make a good guard, but I could chase 'em down if they jumped the fence. Hey, it's all about choices we make. We will pay the piper someday if we are not active, over indulge in drink and eats. Smoking and salting is one way to take years off. Those who think they want to avoid the "nursing home" life will trade it in for a heart attack and sucking on an air tube until the infection sets in. It's not a pretty picture.