Comments on: Fat May not be Good After all http://healthblog.ncpa.org/fat-may-not-be-good-after-all/ Health Care Policy and Reform Insights | NCPA Wed, 23 May 2012 12:15:49 +0000 hourly 1 http://wordpress.org/?v=3.3.2 By: Devon Herrick http://healthblog.ncpa.org/fat-may-not-be-good-after-all/comment-page-1/#comment-38813 Devon Herrick Thu, 19 Jun 2008 13:21:48 +0000 http://www.john-goodman-blog.com/fat-may-not-be-good-after-all/#comment-38813 <p>Jason Shafrin, of the Healthcare Economist Blog, recently had an interesting <a href="http://healthcare-economist.com/2008/06/14/is-obesity-a-problem/" rel="nofollow">post</a> pondering whether the obesity epidemic is a public health problem? As evidence he cites an NBER <a href="http://www.nber.org/papers/w14010" rel="nofollow">paper</a> by Philipson and Posner that explains how obesity more closely fits the criteria of a “private” health problem (i.e. it’s not a social cost).</p> <p>The argument for government intervention against obesity posits that much of the health-related costs due to weight gain will be passed on to Medicaid and Medicare thus creating a negative externality. There are two counter-arguments, however. 1) Higher mortality rates among the obese reduce Social Security payments, which offsets any additional costs for health care. 2) If obesity creates a negative externality the best solution is to allow health insurers to experience-rate enrollees, charging higher premiums to those with above average expected costs.</p> Jason Shafrin, of the Healthcare Economist Blog, recently had an interesting post pondering whether the obesity epidemic is a public health problem? As evidence he cites an NBER paper by Philipson and Posner that explains how obesity more closely fits the criteria of a “private” health problem (i.e. it’s not a social cost).

The argument for government intervention against obesity posits that much of the health-related costs due to weight gain will be passed on to Medicaid and Medicare thus creating a negative externality. There are two counter-arguments, however. 1) Higher mortality rates among the obese reduce Social Security payments, which offsets any additional costs for health care. 2) If obesity creates a negative externality the best solution is to allow health insurers to experience-rate enrollees, charging higher premiums to those with above average expected costs.

]]> By: Ronda http://healthblog.ncpa.org/fat-may-not-be-good-after-all/comment-page-1/#comment-38740 Ronda Wed, 11 Jun 2008 16:32:03 +0000 http://www.john-goodman-blog.com/fat-may-not-be-good-after-all/#comment-38740 You neglected to mention that the optimal fat tax varies a lot by race and sex. For example, pound for pound of blubber, a black female should pay only about one-third as much as the amount assessed on a white male – assuming the study is otherwise accurate. Also, at Publix in Miami, the cost of M&Ms with peanuts is closer to 5 cents a pop. Just keeping you on your toes. Ronda You neglected to mention that the optimal fat tax varies a lot by race and sex. For example, pound for pound of blubber, a black female should pay only about one-third as much as the amount assessed on a white male – assuming the study is otherwise accurate.

Also, at Publix in Miami, the cost of M&Ms with peanuts is closer to 5 cents a pop.

Just keeping you on your toes.

Ronda

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