As America's Waistline Expands, Costs Soar

* $190 billion a year in excess medical spending

* Many costs borne by non-obese, as in higher insurance premiums

* Anti-obesity campaigners say highlighting costs should spur policy changes

By Sharon Begley

NEW YORK, April 30 (Reuters) - U.S. hospitals are ripping out wall-mounted toilets and replacing them with floor models to better support obese patients. The Federal Transit Administration wants buses to be tested for the impact of heavier riders on steering and braking. Cars are burning nearly a billion gallons of gasoline more a year than if passengers weighed what they did in 1960.

The nation's rising rate of obesity has been well-chronicled. But businesses, governments and individuals are only now coming to grips with the costs of those extra pounds, many of which are even greater than believed only a few years ago: The additional medical spending due to obesity is double previous estimates and exceeds even those of smoking, a new study shows. More Read

Comments

Meet the nine-year-old nudist who says he loves everything about being naked... except the mosquitoes

The nudist lifestyle is an alternative and somewhat bewildering choice to most people but few consider how living sans-clothing affects children. For nine-year-old Alex Reamer of Loxahatchee, Florida, the liberating fashion choice is one that he values highly. Aside from the small issue of pesky mosquitoes. Residing in a nudist community just outside Palm Beach with his parents and brother, the fair-haired boy spends most days like any other - playing video games, riding his bike and playing with friends - albeit, naked. Read Here

'Am I ugly?': Worrying new trend sees tweens posting YouTube videos asking the public to comment on their looks

Teen and tween girls and boys are posting clips of themselves on to YouTube accompanied by the question 'Am I ugly? ' A short search yields scores of videos from insecure 11, 12, 13 and 14-year-olds, their anxiety forcing them into the notoriously harsh world of online commentating to find an answer to their misguided question. The worrying trend has mushroomed of late, though the videos first starting appearing two to three years ago. Read Here

Cat kill film No2

A SICK video of a cat being drowned in a bath has been posted on the internet — by the same sadist behind footage of a kitten being fed to a python. The latest video — uncovered by The Sun — shows the terrified pet taped to a broom handle being slowly lowered into the water by a woman. Bubbles can be seen rising as it struggles frantically before losing its fight for life. The footage, called "Bathtime lol" was posted on YouTube at the weekend by a user called jasminethecat666. Full Read

News Tech/Sci Sports Health

Search This Blog