CannibalRabbit’s inner-Accountant was intrigued today after reading this AP report in Wired News:
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. Wired News – AP News.
The report went on to note that thin, healthy people have a habit of hanging around with conditions, like Alzheimer’s, which typically require treatment and care over a long period of time. This “bookkeeping exercise” seems to contradict the common feeling among governments and health authorities that healthy people are cheaper to have in the system. The economist who led the study notes that governments should want a healthy population for the right reasons, quality or life, and not to save money.