What does body mass have to do with Financial Planning? First, the actual data I am about to talk about, Stats Canada study of Body Mass Index sites the following:
Between 1981 and 1996, the prevalence of combined obese and overweight people in Canada increased among men. It rose from 48% to 57%. It also increased from 30% to 35% among women. Rates rose in all provinces.
Statistics Canada. Table 13-10-0488-01 Body mass index (BMI)
57% overweight or obese men in Canada? This is from 1997. As a country, I don’t think we all got on a collective treadmill. We didn’t start exercising, did we? What would a large portion of the population being overweight do to the economy?
- Health care costs will increase due to cardiovascular issues and such.
- Work-related time off will increase (decreased productivity)
These are not trivial problems and they are going to get worse, before they get better.
Oh and if you are asking who is the corpulent chap who's hairy back you are looking at? That's me 4 years ago before I lost about 80 lbs. Why did I lose the weight? Look at that picture and ask me that question again. Curious as to what obese means?
An adult male who is 1.8 metres tall (five-foot-10) and weighs 95 kg (210 pounds) would have a BMI of 30 and be considered obese.
I weighed 285 lbs. and I am 6'3", so I wasn't overweight I was OBESE, by this definition.
Help the Economy by finding your body mass and seeing your doctor if you are overweight. It's important, if not for you, for your family.
More Fat Information
- The health consequences of obesity history and weight fluctuations in adulthood by Rachel C. Colley, Tracey Bushnik and Joel Barnes (Stats Canada):
The prevalence of Canadians living with obesity has increased over the past four decades. Disease and mortality risk increase as the number of years lived with obesity increases. - Debt is Like Fat
My explanation about why losing weight AND getting out of debt are inexorably tied together.
