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Now let's do obesity. From the CDC [1]: > From 1999–2000 through 2017 –2018, US obesity prevalence increased from 30.5% to 42.4%. During the same time, the pre

Now let's do obesity. From the CDC [1]: > From 1999–2000 through 2017 –2018, US obesity prevalence increased from 30.5% to 42.4%. During the same time, the prevalence of severe obesity increased from 4.7% to 9.2%. > Obesity-related conditions include heart disease, stroke, type 2 diabetes and certain types of cancer. These are among the leading causes of preventable, premature death. > The estimated annual medical cost of obesity in the United States was $147 billion in 2008. Medical costs for people who had obesity was $1,429 higher than medical costs for people with healthy weight. Also, if the government really cared about the health of the population, why aren't they mandating exercise or dietary health? [1] https://www.cdc.gov/obesity/data/adult.html https://www.cdc.gov/obesity/data/adult.html

muttantt 5y ago
Very true. Sad that you had to open a throwaway account just to speak this truth.
sprafa 5y ago
They are doing that very same thing with sugar taxes in other countries. The USA is not the world and my argument really is focused on countries with free healthcare.
- xtracto 5y ago
  Exactly! Here in Mexico the government implemented sugar taxes and "warning labels" [1] for unhealthy food. I think any sort of "government mandated" approach doesn't work for the USA. I think in the US a better response would be obtained by "credit tokens", tax deductions or some other money related incentive, given that the US is more capitalist. The interesting issue is how to operationalize such type of incentives program. (i.e. Are you COVID19 vaccinated? we will give you a 5% discount in your taxes next year. You get a unique "discount coupon code" after getting your 2nd shot.) [1] ( https://mexiconewsdaily.com/news/new-warning-labels-now-required-on-packaged-foods/ https://mexiconewsdaily.com/news/new-warning-labels-now-requ...)
sprafa 5y ago
This is just a fallacious argument but you know this. Saying “if x is true then why not y also” is just a false dillemma. Not sure who you are but potentially just a russian bot troll of some kind.
BrianOnHN 5y ago
> Also, if the government really cared about the health of the population, why aren't they mandating exercise or dietary health? This is an grossly exaggerated and absurd comparison. Exercise nor diet are as easy to do well as getting the vaccine. Give me a break.
dbsmith83 5y ago
> Also, if the government really cared about the health of the population, why aren't they mandating exercise or dietary health? Probably because obesity isn't contagious...
- anthonypasq 5y ago
  isnt it? if you're obese youre very likely to pass it onto your children
  - dbsmith83 5y ago
    That's not what contagious means--that's heritability

muttantt 5y ago

Very true. Sad that you had to open a throwaway account just to speak this truth.

sprafa 5y ago

They are doing that very same thing with sugar taxes in other countries. The USA is not the world and my argument really is focused on countries with free healthcare.

xtracto 5y ago
Exactly! Here in Mexico the government implemented sugar taxes and "warning labels" [1] for unhealthy food. I think any sort of "government mandated" approach doesn't work for the USA. I think in the US a better response would be obtained by "credit tokens", tax deductions or some other money related incentive, given that the US is more capitalist. The interesting issue is how to operationalize such type of incentives program. (i.e. Are you COVID19 vaccinated? we will give you a 5% discount in your taxes next year. You get a unique "discount coupon code" after getting your 2nd shot.) [1] ( https://mexiconewsdaily.com/news/new-warning-labels-now-required-on-packaged-foods/ https://mexiconewsdaily.com/news/new-warning-labels-now-requ...)

sprafa 5y ago

This is just a fallacious argument but you know this. Saying “if x is true then why not y also” is just a false dillemma. Not sure who you are but potentially just a russian bot troll of some kind.

BrianOnHN 5y ago

> Also, if the government really cared about the health of the population, why aren't they mandating exercise or dietary health? This is an grossly exaggerated and absurd comparison. Exercise nor diet are as easy to do well as getting the vaccine. Give me a break.

dbsmith83 5y ago

> Also, if the government really cared about the health of the population, why aren't they mandating exercise or dietary health? Probably because obesity isn't contagious...

anthonypasq 5y ago
isnt it? if you're obese youre very likely to pass it onto your children
- dbsmith83 5y ago
  That's not what contagious means--that's heritability