Obesity studies

So a little while ago I got into a research-defending argument at The Carnegie Vandertramp: This is what I love about Obesity. I was told to stop commenting and keep it at my own blog...

So today I read SignOnSandiego.com: Flabs runs up tab, study indicates and thought it was a good opportunity to post here. (that article kind of has a rude title, doesn't it?)

You see, the article indicates that "Californians' weight hikes medical costs, hinders productivity":

Overweight, obese and inactive Californians cost $21.7 billion annually in medical care, workers' compensation and lost productivity, according to a study commissioned by the California Department of Health Services.

And this is exactly why these studies need to be done and their results need to be made public and perhaps influence public policy. This isn't meaning to give people an excuse for being obese. It's meant to show that, for one, there may be other factors that make it easier for some people to be obese ont he same diets as other people who are thin. It's mainly meant to show that if these studies aren't done, then obesity is going to have economic consequences that affect everyone, not just the obese.

If there's anything science can do to thin out the obesity numbers, then I think that's a good thing. Besides, making food healthier and leaner is probably going to be good across the board, right? (unless it makes it zaps food's density so much that thin people with hefty metabolisms end up having to eat lots and lots more...)

Anyway, I don't really have much more to say on the topic, but I didn't want to post that link on that old topic... So I figured I'd post it here.