But smokers and eaters are much more likely to die younger -- and so will not become troublesome old people.
I know the Us is different, but here in the UK a smoker pays so much in tax per packet that they're practically paying for a healthy person's healthcare too.
I'd also speculate that obese people don't really cost that much -- strokes and heart disease hit a long time before people eat into the taxes or insurance they paid.
(Me, I'm not... in any way intoxicated, Wed 6 Apr 2011, 20:18, 1 reply)

Nah.
That might sound convincing, but the truth is that obesity costs a massive massive amount in healthcare. The US counts the cost into the hundreds of billions of dollars a year. We're not at their levels yet because (a) we're not quite such fat fucks and (b) we have a much more cost efficient health service on account of being dirty pinko commies ... but fat biffers are still a burden on the state.
( Dr. Shambolic je suis charlie, Thu 7 Apr 2011, 9:13, closed)

They're only a burden till they die though.
So are unlikely to need nursing care into their 90s and may not draw a pension.
I know you're probably right and fatties represent an overall cost -- but I don't think it's anywhere near as high as people make out.
(Me, I'm not... in any way intoxicated, Thu 7 Apr 2011, 11:19, closed)