High BMI=more expensive health care plan.

I don't understand how employees can be required to disclose HIPAA-protected information in order to not be forced to pay more for a health plan.

this is ridiculous. I am technically obese according to the BMI scale

My doctor's office sent me a form letter (I don't think it even had my name on it) basically saying "Hi! You're obese, and our nutritionist will be contacting you!"

Riiiiiight. Because, after 38 years, I have NO IDEA WHAT CONSTITUTES HEALTHY EATING.

I can't wait for the nutritionist to contact me, so I can ask how losing weight would make my normal blood pressure, normal blood sugar, and normal cholesterol *better.* (The form letter didn't, of course, note anything about those measurements, because if it did, then it would have forced the doctor's office to look at me as a whole person and not a number from a flawed test never meant to be used on individuals.)

And then I can launch into my rant about the utter absurdity of using the BMI, a population density-based tool, to diagnose individuals.

after 38 years, I have NO IDEA WHAT CONSTITUTES HEALTHY EATING

My mother teaches med school students who have no idea what constitutes healthy eating. Food advertising seems contingent upon their target market having no idea what constitutes healthy eating. I've known people who taught exercise classes who didn't know what constituted healthy eating. You are not the majority.

I know what healthy eating is. I just don't want to do it.

Edit: It's not denial, doc, it's rejection. Some people do extreme sports. Some do extreme doughnuts.

You are not the majority.

I guess I'm not. It just annoys me to be swept up in a form letter and not treated like an individual. If I were treated like an individual, then they'd know I'm one of the minority who knows what constitutes healthy eating.

I know what healthy eating is. I just don't want to do it.

You don't have to. Despite the prevailing societal attitude, there is no moral value attached to what you eat.

Unless it's a baby.

A plump, juicy baby.

Covered in BBQ sauce.

I know what healthy eating is. I just don't want to do it.

sits in Connie's corner, spreading peanut butter on pretzels.

A plump, juicy baby.

"Pork, it's the other other white meat!"

"No, fool, that's baby!"

I've several times gotten form letters from doctors who look at my blood test results and tell me to cut down on my consumption of red meat. Or they find out I'm vegan but don't look at my blood tests and tell me to take iron supplements.

Things that suck: watching talented teachers get laid off.

Stupid economy.

I don't understand how employees can be required to disclose HIPAA-protected information in order to not be forced to pay more for a health plan.

Oh, but see, you don't HAVE to disclose! You aren't paying MORE! It's just that if you want a DISCOUNT, you can CHOOSE to disclose! t /sarcasm font

My employer is doing this too. We can choose to go to health fair things (mind you, since I don't work AT the company, this is not really an option for me) and then get tested for BP and cholesterol and BMI and suchlike, and depending on where we fall, win "points" and possibly get enrolled in some kind of "plan" to help us win more "points" and maybe get into a better category and get more money or discount or whateverthehell. My BP is fine, I'm on a MEDICATION THAT MADE ME GAIN WEIGHT (so I think I may *just* be out of regular BMI...which has zippo to do with how I feel about what weight I SHOULD be), WHICH I"M ON TO STOP MIGRAINES, which has nothing to do with how healthy I am otherwise. I haven't had my cholesterol tested in a long time (though I'm going tomorrow!) but I suspect it's bad. Which is...a lot genetic. BLAH.