Comments on: Weaky #15: $60,000 Gluttony

By: MoneyEnergy

MoneyEnergy — Sat, 11 Jul 2009 04:12:26 +0000

I think there are clearly important metaphorical and psychological connections between overeating and overspending. They are both forms of overconsumption, so if you have little self-discipline in one area, you are probably more likely to have little self-discipline in the other, too.

An important caveat though, as you alluded to, is that for some percentage of overweight people it really is a genetic problem and they were victim to it right from the get-go. While they might be able to lose some weight, they will never be “thin” by our Western media’s standards.

And like I think you also alluded to, obesity in itself doesn’t preclude having a successful life with a wealthy career and healthy relationships, etc. etc.

I think it’s important to just focus on ourselves and what we can each control. There are plenty of bad “studies” that themselves are full of half-truths because of poor design, faulty analysis, not large enough sample sizes, and more. I think I’d prefer a case-by-case look: sitting down with this woman, figuring out what went wrong, and then trying to correct it (also using that info to make sure one doesn’t make the same mistakes).
.-= MoneyEnergy´s last blog ..Turning Oil Into Water: The Middle Eastern Resource Accident Waiting To Happen? =-.

By: Kashuo

Kashuo — Tue, 07 Jul 2009 21:39:00 +0000

Even though this is pretty offensive, I agree with you. In fact I have noticed that when I work out with consistency and get in really good shape, it feels like I am saving up and investing in my future. On the flip side, being fat is like being in debt because you are so far behind the other people who are in shape (rich), you have to work out extra hard just to catch up. Interesting post. .-= Kashuo´s last blog ..1000 Years =-.

By: Mrs. Modern Tightwad

Mrs. Modern Tightwad — Thu, 02 Jul 2009 15:57:00 +0000

Well, I have a pretty good amount of debt and I’m skinny as a rail so I might be an aberration. While I agree that there is a correlation, I think your reasoning regarding instant gratification is narrow at best. I would at least add that many severe health problems and different medications can cause obesity. Since unplanned medical bills are also a significant cause of debt one could argue that while the correlation is correct, the assumption of the slovenly person may not be. Although as Bill Engvall said, when you see the heavyset person at the fair with the funnel cake in one hand, corn dog in the other, and a burrito hanging out their mouth like a cigarette, “no one’s thinking (s)he’s got a thyroid problem.”
.-= Mrs. Modern Tightwad´s last blog ..Recipe: BBQ Pork =-.

By: Bucky Doolittle

Bucky Doolittle — Wed, 01 Jul 2009 13:05:20 +0000

Brutal honesty from the Weakonomist. I like it!

By: Josh

Josh — Wed, 01 Jul 2009 02:58:16 +0000

It is VERY hard to feel any sympathy for these kind of people. It is just such basic mathematics and common sense that purchases made now using credit will need to paid back in the future, plus interest.

I read the article and one positive note is that this woman is not blaming the banks and other institutions for the position she has found herself in. She has at least faced up to the problem and is taking steps to fix it.

And it’s a good point too, the correlation between obesity and credit card debt. To avoid both requires considering the future consequences of present actions.

By: The Incidental Economist

The Incidental Economist — Tue, 30 Jun 2009 20:59:38 +0000

The key difficulty in such a study is finding a data set with measures of debt (or of income and consumption). There are plenty of public data sources on a nationally representative sample with body mass index (e.g. Medical Expenditure Panel Survey, Current Population Survey). If you can find a data set for which you can estimate debt, the analysis isn't that hard. I could hunt for the data. Anyone want to crunch the numbers? It'd require knowledge of statistical software like SAS, Stata, SPSS, etc.? Again, I could do it all but I don't have time. .-= The Incidental Economist´s last blog ..Ch-Ching! Cash in My Crawlspace =-.

By: Jason Wier

Jason Wier — Tue, 30 Jun 2009 19:11:37 +0000

I think there is a huge correlation. I have battled the weight loss in the past and continue to have to stay on top of the issue. I have been dept free for about the same number of years as I have lost weight and it comes down to discipline and setting goals. I do think what you wrote is offensive, but no more offensive than a mirror and that is not your fault. .-= Jason Wier´s last blog ..2009 Warsaw Optimist Triathlon =-.

By: Philip

Philip — Tue, 30 Jun 2009 19:06:40 +0000

Sounds like a worthwhile study. I am not sure how well people would take to it but if there is a strong correlation would credit card companies start asking for you to include your weight when applying for credit cards?

I really do agree with you, it is really your ability to see what your actions now cause later, using some delayed gratification would fix both problems.

Congratulations on your success with both goals.

By: SJ

SJ — Tue, 30 Jun 2009 17:25:58 +0000

Yay i’m skinny and have no real debt ( just minor student loans that are deferred heh)
Well… you’d have to account for the FAT gene, i.e metabolizing speeds.
Skinny peeps (like me) who can eat all they want and not get fat… (just clogged arteries) would help disprove it.

BUt otherwise I agree w/ the general connection; impulse buys + impulse eating.

Man that sounds mean.
.-= SJ´s last blog ..SJ seeks “The Economic Naturalist” =-.