Normally, it's not in my nature to let governments, companies or large entities make decisions for individuals or shoehorn them into any type of behavior.
It's a matter of personal freedom, after all.
But, going against my nature, I do like programs like these and here's why. I have a friend who I've known since college and to her own admission, has always been overweight. She tried several times to shed those extra pounds, but never succeeded. Besides, her focus had always been on academic and professional achievement and being highly intellectual, she always found judgment of women's bodies, looks, etc., on the superficial side.
Once she became a doctor, though, that thought process was upended. And it wasn't any thing she discovered through study or experience, but what her insurance company was willing or not willing to cover. Because of her weight, she found out she was at an extremely high risk for diabetes and that she may not qualify for coverage or at worst, pay an extremely high premium. And for my friend, who respects numbers and science, this threat hit home.
And with two toddlers at home and a husband still attending school, she was the one who would need to provide health insurance coverage for her entire family.
Needless to say, less than a year later, she lost more than 50 pounds and changed her wardrobe, hair and attitude right along with it. I've seen the benefits of these types of programs first hand, and if an individual can't muster the motivation to take his or her health into their own hands, maybe the threat of losing out on something extremely valuable can.
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Normally, it's not in my nature to let governments, companies or large entities make decisions for individuals or shoehorn them into any type of behavior.
It's a matter of personal freedom, after all.
But, going against my nature, I do like programs like these and here's why. I have a friend who I've known since college and to her own admission, has always been overweight. She tried several times to shed those extra pounds, but never succeeded. Besides, her focus had always been on academic and professional achievement and being highly intellectual, she always found judgment of women's bodies, looks, etc., on the superficial side.
Once she became a doctor, though, that thought process was upended. And it wasn't any thing she discovered through study or experience, but what her insurance company was willing or not willing to cover. Because of her weight, she found out she was at an extremely high risk for diabetes and that she may not qualify for coverage or at worst, pay an extremely high premium. And for my friend, who respects numbers and science, this threat hit home.
And with two toddlers at home and a husband still attending school, she was the one who would need to provide health insurance coverage for her entire family.
Needless to say, less than a year later, she lost more than 50 pounds and changed her wardrobe, hair and attitude right along with it. I've seen the benefits of these types of programs first hand, and if an individual can't muster the motivation to take his or her health into their own hands, maybe the threat of losing out on something extremely valuable can.
July 26, 2008 - 11:58amThis Comment
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