Up to 50%% of our taxes & insurance premiums go to cover ÔlifestyleÕ activities. Lifestyle is therefore the largest category of discretionary spending with the potential of reducing our costs by up to this same 50%%. Lifestyle is also a far more accurate predicator of our future health care needs and social service requirements. This allows lifestyle to provide the best measure of planning & forecast over todayÕs Ôcomparison shoppingÕ models. ROOPA highlights the number of savings and other advantages gained from this dual track of lifestyle and its corresponding social costs models.
ÒThe Ôsocial costÕ of obesity averages around $150 billion a year. This comes to about 10 cents per item (of junk food). Every soda pop, hamburger and candy bar will now have this 10 cent premium.
The more soda you drink, the more you have already paid into your own health coverage for obesity. ItÕs the most affordable Ôpay as you goÕ insurance plan. It cost a dime.Ó