Preventative care saves money in the long run, right? Not necessarily.
While catching up the feeds this morning, I ran across an interesting story in the Boston Globe. The story reports a study from the Dutch National institute for Public Health and the Environment which says, basically, that long term healthcare costs are much lower for the obese - anywhere from $50K to $100K over the course of a lifetime.
The difference? Unhealthy people die sooner.
"This throws a bucket of cold water onto the idea that obesity is going to cost trillions of dollars," said Patrick Basham, a professor of health politics at Johns Hopkins University who was unconnected to the study ... "If we're going to worry about the future of obesity, we should stop worrying about its financial impact," he said.
Add to that the fact that fat people are good for the economy. Junk food, fast food, soda, and chain restaurants - all industries that popped up in an effort to help us manage the food portion of our hectic lifestyles. And let's not forget the health clubs, exercise equipment, and diet aids that help us manage the weight loss portion of our hectic lifestyles.
There are any number of ethical undercurrents that we'll acknowledge while in the very same breath declare that we want no part of discussing. But, as the saying goes, the data are what the data are.
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Earlier this week the Vanderbilt University Medical Center announced plans to outlaw gift from drug reps. Included on the list are all forms of branded swag (pens, paper, clothes, and other personal items) as well as food. Drug company representatives would also be precluded from attending or sponsoring continuing medical education events on the Vanderbilt campus.
