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Panel of scientists have been looking at ways to reduce obesity and overweightness in Americans.
Unpublished research shows medical expenses, reduced productivity, wider gender and income inequality and even higher transportation costs have links with this shift in demographics.
Medical expenses for the extremely overweight have skyrocketed.
Now appears that not just individual’s well-being suffering but significant economic costs associated with this change.
With 2/3 of Americans are now overweight with 1/3 being classed as obese, the panel was set up to see the consequences of this demographic change and what could be done.
The Dietary Guidelines Advisory Committee last month recommended increase taxes on sugary drinks and foods to reduce consumption. Revenue used subsidize or promote healthier behavior.
Insurance based health care system means leaner people are now subsidizing fat people. Now calls for serious intervention which go beyond normal policy measures to solve this crisis.
Shift in spending towards health care could suck demand out of the economy resulting in less investment.
So far people are holding down the economy in the jobs they can and how much they do.
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