Posted On: April 10, 2008, 1:38 pm CDT

Posted By: Confused Too

I really appreciate these intelligent postings - so far people are really on their A-thinking game today. I agree with Fatima - I think people from other countries wonder what is Americans' problem? As some have stated it really is a multitude of factors. The stress, sitting at your desk has really been shown to increase your size hence you need to move but if you do then you're a social butterfly (yes I have been told this!), etc. I am considered obese also but if I am out "sick" then I really stayed at home to catch that early morning gym class I've been wanting to and spend the rest of the day running errands and catching up on Judge Judy. My cholesterol is the same if not better than my more "fit" siblings, thank God. I believe some people literally eat themselves to death but pinpointing a group and making them all out to be the company "deadweights" and drains on resources will lead to a very slippery slope. What if your employer finds out your a swinger or a "dancer" (i.e. naked dance floor technician)? Are those people going to be charged more for their risky behavior? No - because those things can easily stay hidden and being "fat" is obvious. There are skinny people with cholesterol levels over 200 - 300 and they too would be "high-risk". Are they going to be targets too?

People can make fun of overweight / obese people but everyone has skeletons medical or otherwise that some people would consider risky so don't think you too can come under the miscroscope of your employer. If there is anyway they can weed out certain people then obesity is just one thing they can do.

Anyway there was one morning show where this syndicated talk show host offered almost $20K to his body guard to lose almost 100 pounds and he reached the goal.

Now that's what I call incentive!