What if the government offered some annual tax incentive for people that met certain physical requirements. (BMI, Height/weight, etc - not sure about the details)
The gist would be that the government rewards people who take care of themselves. Maybe they dress it up as an insurance break or something.
You could reduce obesity. It gives people incentive to work out and not consume garbage. It wouldn't be discrimination because everyone would have the opportunity to receive the tax break if they meet the requirements - which wouldn't be egregiously stringent.
I fail to see a downside to such a proposition. What do you think?
You socialist! What about my freedom to be a fat fuck?!
Honestly I see the appeal but this is the USA and anything for the betterment of society is going to be tough. Plus who would be the special interest that would benefit? 
my problem is that BMI standards are waaaaaaay out of wack.
I am considered "Obesity = BMI of 30 or greater"
Turns out Im just short and muscle bound.
Why give an insurance break to those that are likely to drain the system for longer than those that will die early often while they are paying into the system? Somebody who smokes costs a lot in medical bills when they die of cancer at 58, but not as much as someone who lives until they're 85.
-The people most at risk of making lousy health choices don't pay taxes.
-Most people are already exceedingly bad at putting off short-term gains for long-term ones. The ones that aren't are already making healthy decisions.
-I'm reminded of taxing cigarettes & requiring nicotine labels by law, while also subsidizing tobacco. Pick a side, already. Let's start by not subsidizing corn anymore.
BarkLikeADog - -The people most at risk of making lousy health choices don't pay taxes.
-Most people are already exceedingly bad at putting off short-term gains for long-term ones. The ones that aren't are already making healthy decisions.
-I'm reminded of taxing cigarettes & requiring nicotine labels by law, while also subsidizing tobacco. Pick a side, already. Let's start by not subsidizing corn anymore.
That's what I was thinking. We subsidize the corn growers, then we want to tax people who have stuff all sorts of HFCS down their throats and gained weight.
Actually wellness incentives have been around for a while and you don't need Gov Co for it. The incentive for people to save a little money and encourage them to live healthy is great.
Oh, yes people should have the right to be fatties, smokers, alcoholics, if they want, they alone should be saddled with the cost of those consequences. It's part of being a free person.
My insurance offers a subsidized rate and a $300 gift card per year for getting blood work and meeting with a health counselor
cruedi -BarkLikeADog - -The people most at risk of making lousy health choices don't pay taxes.
-Most people are already exceedingly bad at putting off short-term gains for long-term ones. The ones that aren't are already making healthy decisions.
-I'm reminded of taxing cigarettes & requiring nicotine labels by law, while also subsidizing tobacco. Pick a side, already. Let's start by not subsidizing corn anymore.
That's what I was thinking. We subsidize the corn growers, then we want to tax people who have stuff all sorts of HFCS down their throats and gained weight.
because everyone who eats HFCS products becomes obese right?
people who make products with HFCS aren't putting a gun to people's heads and forcing them to eat
there are plenty of people who eat HFCS products that aren't obese
google korea and japan's HFCS consumption and compare it to their obesity rate
correlation isn't causation
Why punish people with bad genetics? 
Pay a ton of money to manage it.