More interestingness on this healthcare reform.
Wow… “few things could do more to slow the rise of Type 2 diabetes among adolescents than to reduce their soda consumption, which represents 15 percent of their caloric intake.”“The moment these new rules take effect, health insurance companies will promptly discover they have a powerful interest in reducing rates of obesity and chronic diseases linked to diet. A patient with Type 2 diabetes incurs additional health care costs of more than $6,600 a year; over a lifetime, that can come to more than $400,000. Insurers will quickly figure out that every case of Type 2 diabetes they can prevent adds $400,000 to their bottom line. Suddenly, every can of soda or Happy Meal or chicken nugget on a school lunch menu will look like a threat to future profits.”—
NYT: Big Food vs. Big Insurance
Thanks adamiss for the link
I recently read “In Defense of Food” (also by Pollan), it’s probably the most significant book I’ve ever read (behind the Sears catalog when I discovered my puberty).
If you want to go even further down this wormhole, I would also say that by improving the American diet we would also go a long way to improving the environment (fewer pesticites or processesing toxins, and less transportation) which is right up Obama’s go green campaign.
Could this healthcare bill lead to health care for all, food reform, and environmental clean up?!
However, you will have to give up all your rights and privacy. :-/
