X-Message-Number: 24289
Subject: Re: better to be obese than thin
From: Michael Hartl <>
References: <>
Date: 22 Jun 2004 13:40:53 -0700

>   Given the money to be made and power to be gained from publishing the
> obesity epidemic, it is probably unreasonable to hope we might be spared
> a costly, intrusive and ultimately unsuccessful war against fat. 

This doesn't follow; in fact, the financial incentives point strongly in
the other direction, due to life and health insurance.  Insurance
companies are in the business to make money; to the extent that current
insurance premium rates don't reflect reality, they create an
opportunity for profit.  In other words, if obesity isn't a strong risk
factor for disease and premature death, then there is big money to be
made by selling overweight people cheaper health and life insurance.  If
the current conventional wisdom is wrong, expect a contrarian insurance
company to reap a windfall by pricing its insurance correctly.  Other
insurance companies would quickly follow suit, and it would then become
obvious that there's something fishy about the conventional wisdom.

Incidentally, if transhumanists are correct in their belief that
lifespans are set to increase dramatically over the next fifty years or
so due to technological advancements, then life insurance is currently
badly overpriced, at least for young people.  Be on the lookout for an
insurance company that realizes this; it might make for a wise
investment.

-- 
Michael Hartl
http://michaelhartl.org/

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