Save money – order more food!
May 13th, 2006 by Bill
I found Malcolm Gladwell’s post about approaches to health (U.S. versus U.K.) quite interesting – and the comments that follow it just as fascinating. He springboards from a study that indicates that while the U.S. spends considerably more on health, Americans are quite a bit more unhealthy than the British. (And I think Canada tends to lean more towards the U.S. than the U.K. as far as how healthy we are – but that’s just a guess.)
The comparison doesn’t mean much to me, or the amount spent on health. What I find of interest is, “What makes us unhealthy?” Stress is proposed as a key factor:
“Krugman argues that this is evidence of how much more stressful living in America is than living in England. I think that’s absolutely right. … Our health is in reality a function of the broader society in which we live–the pressures and conditions and environments in which we find ourselves.”
In the comments following Gladwell’s post, you can see many other possible factors proposed. I think it’s a combination of all these, including … a pet rant of mine. (I’m switching gears here.)
Why do restaurants insist on serving so much damn food? Look at me! I can’t eat all that! Even more aggravating … Why do I get charged less money if I order more food?!
“If you order the meal, sir, it will be cheaper.”
Who dreamed that horseshit up? In a world obsessed with the problem of weight and over-eating, why are we charging people less money the more food they buy?
Wouldn’t it make more sense to say, “But sir, if you order less food it will cost you less money!”
We live in a culture of boneheads.
(Exiting soapbox now.)
