Unhealthy People Cost Less Than Healthy

[gLing]

LONDON (Feb. 4) - Preventing obesity and smoking can save lives, but it doesn't save money, researchers reported Monday. It costs more to care for healthy people who live years longer, according to a Dutch study that counters the common perception that preventing obesity would save governments millions of dollars.

"It was a small surprise," said Pieter van Baal, an economist at the Netherlands' National Institute for Public Health and the Environment, who led the study. "But it also makes sense. If you live longer, then you cost the health system more."

In a paper published online Monday in the Public Library of Science Medicine journal, Dutch researchers found that the health costs of thin and healthy people in adulthood are more expensive than those of either fat people or smokers.

Unhealthy People Cost Less Than Healthy - AOL News


Now that is interesting in light of this article..

Doctors are calling for NHS treatment to be withheld from patients who are too old or who lead unhealthy lives.

Smokers, heavy drinkers, the obese and the elderly should be barred from receiving some operations, according to doctors, with most saying the health service cannot afford to provide free care to everyone.

Don't treat the old and unhealthy, say doctors - Telegraph

 

[Peter Parka]

The amounts of tax on tobacco and alcohol more than pays for the treatment of illness caused by its effects. The government over here just thinks it's its duty to tell people how they should live is all! It would never be outlawed regardless of changes they try and push because it would cause serious economic problems for the whole country.

 

[debbie t]

The amounts of tax on tobacco and alcohol more than pays for the treatment of illness caused by its effects. The government over here just thinks it's its duty to tell people how they should live is all! It would never be outlawed regardless of changes they try and push because it would cause serious economic problems for the whole country.

too true,lets face it if the poor working classes stopped drinking and smoking then the whole country would collapse....i believe we should outlaw all private medicine and simply have a national health sysytem for all rich and poor alike.