Nearly 10 percent of health spending for obesity

More kudos, fatsos.

"Obesity's not just dangerous, it's expensive. New research shows medical spending averages $1,400 more a year for an obese person than for someone who's normal weight. Overall obesity-related health spending reaches $147 billion, double what it was nearly a decade ago, says the study published Monday by the journal Health Affairs.

The higher expense reflects the costs of treating diabetes, heart disease and other ailments far more common for the overweight, concluded the study by government scientists and the nonprofit research group RTI International.

RTI health economist Eric Finkelstein offers a blunt message for lawmakers trying to revamp the health care system: 'Unless you address obesity, you're never going to address rising health care costs."

Yup.

And it will never, ever get properly addressed by the powers that be.

Why? See here, here and here.

And what should you do if you are fat and want to shed the pounds? Go here, here, here and here.

And if you want to get physically fitter? Go here and here.

And if you want to implement a workplace wellness program with a prayer of succeeding? Go here and here.

And if you want to remain calorically and socially irresponsible?

Go here.