Researchers at the Netherlands National Insitute for Public Health and the Environment recently released the results of a new study. They said, and I quote, “People who smoke and overeat may do themselves a lot of harm, but in the long run they’re actually less costly to society than healthy people. That’s because obese people and smokers die younger and thus consume fewer healthcare dollars.”
Well, there you have it . . . the answer to our United States healthcare dilemma. We should all eat more and start smoking.
Sounds like survival of the fittest repackaged again. You have to watch what comes out of the Netherlands in the way of these things. I bet within the next year or two someone there comes out with a proposal to not give overweight people benifits since they will die sooner anyway.
Nihlism at it’s finest.
I find this very interesting since I’m both 100% Dutch (moved to the States in July 2003) and I’m an active RiverTree church-member as is my wife. I did hear of this study and maybe it’s not the most effective way of getting the message out, but as soon as smokers and overweight people are actually costing us LESS, we should seriously look at the cost of our health care system. Another thing we should (re-)look at might be a study of how spiritual health effects our physical health, especially addictions. It might reduce the risk of smoking and obesity since if you’re a believer in Christ you don’t need to run to addictions to feel ‘satisfied’.