Fit mother attacked on Facebook

[mythology]

301. Actually it does impact others

First there's the cost of health care which rises because more and more Americans need treatment for type 2 diabetes, or weight based illnesses. So those people who aren't overweight have to pay more to balance out the increased costs for those who are overweight. Overall obesity is estimated to cost about $190 billion in the U.S. annually and is rising.

Secondly, if you don't think a higher risk of dying young has an impact on your family and friends, you're simply wrong. The average kid whose dad dies of cardiac arrest at 40 is over average going to be worse off than the same kid if his dad lives to be 80 on a host of levels.

Thirdly recent studies have found that being around people who are overweight makes other people more likely to become overweight. So the child of an obese person is more likely to become obese, thus passing on all the economic and physical burdens thereof to the child.

But you're right. Physical fitness is a choice. People can choose to drive drunk, that doesn't mean it's a good choice for themselves or for others. If a cop pulls you over for drunk driving, even if you haven't hit anybody, you still get a ticket. Why? Because that choice has a consequence.