Posts Tagged ‘ Obesity ’

Fat Flights: Is Pay-by-the-Pound Coming to Airline Tickets?

March 28th, 2013. By AbiK

We’re not talking baggage here. We’re talking about YOU and those extra pounds of flab you’re lugging around.

There’s an analysis making the media rounds this week, done by economics professor Dr. Bharat P. Bhatta of Sogn og Fjordane University College in Norway. The analysis—an exploratory one, mind you—was published in the Journal of Revenue and Pricing Management and looked at the feasibility and logic of charging airline passengers according to how much they weigh.

It’s a loaded issue. After all, on the one hand, who of us hasn’t sat—scrunched—next to someone whose corpulence edged over the invisible seat boundary into our own personal space? And you’re left thinking, “This is what I paid $600+ for? Six hours of confined discomfort?” Yeah, you know what I’m talking about.

However, on the flip side of course, are those who are larger than a toothpick and, well, isn’t the concept of charging people according to weight a bit discriminatory?

So what’s this analysis all about? You have to take emotion out of the equation for a moment and look at this economically to understand the basis for the discussion. According to CBS New York, the economics are as such…

Bhatta cites an article in The Economist, saying “a reduction of 1 kg (2.2 pounds) weight of a plane will result in a fuel savings worth $3,000 a year and a reduction of CO2 emissions by the same token.”

His arguments stem from the notion that the more weight a plane is carrying, the “stronger an engine is needed and the more fuel it requires to carry” that weight. He also states that additional space is required to accommodate a heavier person.

The end result being a ticket cost that is “not fairly distributed among passengers,” according to Bhatta.

Viewed through that lens, it does cost more to haul more weight through the air—in terms of both cargo and passengers. And, viewed though that same lens (and my scrunched up image above), hasn’t current airline ticket pricing been a bit discriminatory to skinnier passengers then? It’s the classic “it’s your issue, don’t make it mine” argument for equitable or at least non-infringing treatment. And it’s food for thought.

This is not a new discussion. LawyersandSettlements.com has reported on the ‘what to charge fat people’ debate (and I’m not being ugly there—just calling it what it is) before—see our stories on ambulance fees for overweight people and also on overweight people looking for a manicure.

There is no easy or simple answer to this, and the suggestions Bhatta gives for how such a “pay-as-you-weigh” pricing model could be implemented are a bit ludicrous at best. One suggestion—the most obvious—is to charge fares according to actual weight by having a fixed rate per pound (for both “body and bags” as CBS points out).

Can you just envision the weigh-ins at the airport? Would there be curtained-off booths? Would anyone cheer if someone had lost a few pounds vs. their previous flight? (after all, your passenger history would be right there on screen, right?) Maybe Weight Watchers could rent meeting space in the main concourse areas of major airports. Just saying…

Public opinion was divided when John Montone from 1010 WINS in New York interviewed some passengers at Newark Liberty Airport yesterday. While the CBS News online report only shared the thoughts of heavier passengers, who of course were not in favor of such pay-by-the-pound tactics, the live interviews that aired on the radio also included opinion from the thinner set.

Regardless of how you weigh in on the situation (pun intended), somehow I don’t think any airlines will be lining up to implement this one, but you never know…

Tags: Airline Tickets, Discrimination, Dr. Bharat P Bhatta, Obesity, Overweight Passengers, Pay by the Pound
Posted in Airlines, Discrimination, Emerging Issues | 4 Comments »

What’s Making You Fat? 2 Popular Drugs could be Packing on Pounds (or Worse)

July 29th, 2012. By AbiK

You’re wondering what’s going on, right? It’s not like you’re doing a solo flight with a pint of Häagen-Daz every night before bed or blowing through the Taco Bell drive-thru each day rattling off an order for a couple dozen 99¢ Beefy Nacho Burritos (in a large shopping bag, thanks). But something’s making you gain weight or keep it on…

Indeed, obesity has become what some would call an epidemic. Heck, all you need to do is turn to the media to find words like “diabesity” being used to realize how much obesity—or discussion about it—has infiltrated our lives. But could there must be something else going on?—something other than a big food orgy that most of us didn’t even know we were attending?

Perhaps. That something could be a vicious cycle you’re in—where, by treating a condition that’s potentially related to weight gain, the treatment you’re on can actually lead to more pounds. Unfortunately for some, the treatment can also lead to harmful drug side effects—which in turn can lead to a drug-related personal injury lawsuit. A vicious cycle, indeed. The following two conditions and treatments are examples of vicious cycles that could be causing weight gain and putting you at risk for some unwanted side effects:

1. Antidepressants are Making You Gain Weight

Somehow it’s easy to link depression to weight gain—it’s that “emotional eating” theory. But treating depression with antidepressants can also lead to weight gain. That’s right—the very drug you might be taking to help you avoid emotional eating might also be causing your weight gain. Paxil, Prozac and Zoloft each have possible weight gain as a side effect (in addition to other serious potential side effects like SSRI birth defects or suicidal thoughts). And it’s estimated that about 25% of those taking an antidepressant will experience some weight gain.

Additionally, atypical antipsychotic medications Zyprexa, Abilify, Risperdal and Seroquel have been linked to rapid (and dangerous) weight gain in children.

2.  Diabetes Medication is Making You Gain Weight

Remember that 70’s Billy Preston song, “Will It Go Round In Circles”? Well, diabetes and treating diabetes have that ‘going around in circles’ thing going on. Unfortunately, being overweight or obese can be a precursor to type 2 diabetes. Once diagnosed, some diabetes patients are put on a thiazolidinedione drug such as Actos. One of the more common side effects of Actos can be weight gain—the very thing that may have contributed to onset of type 2 diabetes in the first place (see it coming full circle?) The Actos labelling info also includes “rapid weight gain” as a possible serious side effect which requires immediate medical attention.

Weight gain may be the least of the worries for Actos side effects, though. Actos has also been associated with bladder cancer, heart failure and liver problems.

As always, before stopping any medication, or when noticing any concerning side effects, talk to your doctor.

Tags: Abilify, Actos, Antidepressant, Diabetes drug, Drug Side Effects, Effexor, Obesity, paxil, Prozac, Zoloft, Zyprexa
Posted in Drugs/Medical, Emerging Issues, lawsuits | 4 Comments »