It costs more to be a fat woman.

^{Image from 1934}

It pays to be a man, or a skinny man!  (Or, in my case, a fat girl.  But, not to this study, below....)

• Medical News Today -  http://www.medicalnewstoday.com/articles/201972.php

Obese women incur higher costs, both to their health and wallets, than men, according to a new study by researchers at George Washington University.

"George Washington University researchers added in things like employee sick days, lost productivity, even the need for extra gasoline - and found the annual cost of being obese is $4,879 for a woman and $2,646 for a man.

That's far more than the cost of being merely overweight - $524 for women and $432 for men, concluded the report being released Tuesday, which analyzed previously published studies to come up with a total."

The difference between the sexes may be attributable to larger women earning less than skinner women while that difference doesn't change wages for men, researchers found.

It should be noted this study was funded by a gastric band maker.  Gee, that's special. 

"Lost productivity."  I am working on that for you.  I have officially -- what -- several years of practice!  As a person who is "disabled"  indirectly and directly from weight loss surgery for obesity, who qualifies for Social Security payments and Vocational Rehabilitation Services from the government, I cost much, much more than I EVER DID as a fat chick.

Yes, I'm Special.  You didn't know?

I was an expensive date back when pregnant and obese prior to losing half of my body weight, those prenatal visits added up with high blood pressure and the stresses on my body.  But, I could contribute physically to the working society, take in a typical paycheck, drive a car and simply be fat while doing so.

Now, I am mostly of a normal weight, but I cost much more. 

My health care worth increased exponentially!  I was never worth this much!  Cigna, BCBS, et al, LOVE MY BILLS.

$30,000 obesity surgery, followup care, ER visit, return visits, lab work, hematologists, psychologist, psychiatrist, psycho-pharmacologist, PCPs, plastic surgeon consults, more ER, MRI, CAT scans, inpatient visits, neurologists, follow up, RX's, etc. etc. 

And, it's only going to increase as I age, and other issues, related or not, develop!  ;) 

I know, I'm being silly, but I literally stopped, laughed out loud, and turned the radio up to listen to this report.

Give me a break.

I was a cheap fat chick.  I'm an expensive "skinny" (ha ha) chick.