The US is known for its high obesity rate. I have always thought it was at odds with its aim to be a competitive and work oriented economy - Americans tend to work hard and long hours. Indeed, obesity is a sign of poor health, but can one work well or long hours while having poor health? I'll admit there's not necessarily a contradiction. I know plenty of people that are not in great shape physically, yet have a productive brain and have a good character at the workplace - it seems like the brain is not affected. I've even seen argued sometimes that the obesity rate wasn't impacting the health bills that much, though I have doubts about that.
http://www.bloomberg.com/news/artic...as-a-weight-problem-as-costs-of-obesity-mount
http://www.bloomberg.com/news/artic...as-a-weight-problem-as-costs-of-obesity-mount
“The employee is most likely getting paid for it, but there was no work done on it, and there was a cost to the employer,” Andreyeva said. Diminished productivity is a major source of drag on the economy as it leads to higher production costs and a less competitive workforce, she said.