Hello Company

The Washington Post has a great story on Obesity and Corporate America’s profits. Juicy bits from a Lip-smacking read:







1. Fat Figures Indeed

...the “obesity industries” will likely top $315 billion this year, and perhaps far more. That includes $133.7 billion for fast-food restaurants, $124.7 billion for medical treatments related to obesity, and $1.8 billion just for diet books — all told, nearly 3 percent of the overall U.S. economy.

...according to consumer-research firm Mintel Group, Americans guzzled $37 billion in carbonated beverages in 2004. The same year, they spent $3.9 billion on cookies — $244 million of which were Oreo cookies sold by Kraft Foods for about $3.69 a package. In 2003, they splurged $57.2 billion on meals at restaurants... Potato chip sales hit $6.2 billion in 2004.

Economists have noted that changes in the workplace have caused us to burn fewer calories. Prior to the 1950s, jobs often meant hard labor. We lifted heavy things. We worked outside. Our desks — if we had them — did not come equipped with computers. We lived in urban environments, walking most places.

People are just not willing to give up their leisure time...People don’t want to pay to exercise with their leisure time.

There is a company called Goliath Casket that makes caskets up to 52 inches wide.