Alabama Penalizes State Workers for Obesity

Growing up in the Midwest, my friends and family always made fun of me for being "healthy"-being a vegetarian, doing yoga, that sort of thing. I knew that I was going against the grain, but I didn't care because these things made me feel good.

None of these people will laugh after reading the following information.

As the numbers of obese Americans of all ages continue to rise, the Alabama state government set an important precident - they've mandated that obese employees pay a $25 monthly fee for medical insurance. Employees have one year to get fit before the fee goes into effect.

Although a handful of states reward employees who engage in healthy behaviors, Alabama will be the first state to penalize individuals for being obese.

Alabama already charges state employees who smoke, and has seen some success in getting them to quit. According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, 30.3 percent of Alabama residents are obese.

Although employees protest and blame genetics, an individual with a BMI from 35 to 39 percent generates $1,748 a year more medical costs on average than a person with a BMI of 25 percent or less.

These incentives are only the beginning. As our medical system and overall economy slide further into crisis, employers and insurance companies will come up with more ways to make medical insurance cost effective.

The burden of responsibility for health is shifting back from the medical system to the individual. It's just one more reason to make every effort to lead a healthier life.