Being fat (yes, that politically incorrect word) is not only unhealthy, it is expensive. Again, another zing to those who think that we will be in healthcare heaven if we can only limit malpractice awards.

No, sorry. You literally can’t have your cake and eat it too. You know why? Because cake puts the pounds on.

This is some interesting data, comparing the high cost of being obese. Something to think about before you buy that 42 oz soda, or ultra-huge Big Mac with triple cheese on top.

From USA Today:

Comparing the Data

In an examination of national surveys of about 14,000 people from 1987-2002–which included data from health care spending, medical conditions and trips to the doctor, hospital and pharmacy–researchers found:

On average, it cost $1,244 more in 2002 to treat an obese person than it did to treat a healthy-weight person; in 1987 that difference was a mere $272.

Diabetes treatments rose 64%t from 1987 to 2002.

About a quarter of the morbidly obese were treated for six or more conditions in 2002, close to double compared to 1987.

The number of obese patients treated for mental disorders, upper gastrointestinal problems and high cholesterol jumped 10%.

Thus, these findings prove that as Americans continue to pack on the pounds, medical costs continue to boom.

Medical bills are one of the primary causes of debt in the U.S. Yes, I know, government sponsored healthcare sucks. The free market system gives and takes, and people need to be responsible for their healthcare. And yes, I know that many people balk at spending $200 a month for health insurance premiums but think nothing of spending triple that amount on cigarettes, junk food, and booze, or feel the need to buy a new SUV every year.

But like it or not, there are, at any given time, about 40 million people in the U.S. without health insurance. About 80% of them are employed, and they are too wealthy for Medicaid. And even those with insurance often end up with a hefty bill. If you’re policy only pays 80% of the bill, and your hospital and surgical bill come to a total of $200,00–well, that’s $40, 000 that you have to pay out of pocket.

So, how about allowing Uncle Sam to take care of you? Afterall, prisoners get top notch free healthcare, shelter, three square meals, and even the opportunity to get a college education. Of course, you do have to live behind bars, but that may be better than living on the street. Especially if you have health problems.

A US man shot his postman so that he would get sent to prison for life and escape his crippling medical debts, investigators say.

Yes, you read correctly. This man deliberately shot a mail carrier so that he would go to prison and not have to worry about paying his medical bills, which he feared would leave him homeless.

William Crutchfield shot 59-year-old postman Earl Lazenby in Snellville, Georgia, two weeks ago. Mr Lazenby survived the attack but the shots punctured his colon and intestine and fractured bones in an arm.

After shooting Mr Lazenby, the 60-year-old electrical contractor drove to the police station and confessed.

Crutchfield apparently told the police that he shot the postman as a way of escaping medical debts of $90,000. He said he feared losing his home and thought that living in prison would be better than surviving on the street.

“He was saying that he wanted to be cared for by the federal government, that he was in poor health and wanted to be taken care of,” Atlanta postal inspector Tracey Jefferson said

So isn’t this a bizarre conundrum. We take care of people who have broken the law–perhaps murdered, raped, tortured, etc–and provide them with free, first class medical care. But for law abiding citizens, we give them the opportunity to incur huge debts and possibly lose their very home to pay for them. And even if a person can afford insurance, very often they can’t get it if they have a medical condition. Or their insurer drops them.

Is this what Bush means by promoting family values????

Read the complete story in the BBC