Bad news for America. Good news for weight-control industries. A brand-new government study just released says it’s not unforeseeable that all U.S. adults could be overweight inside of 40 years.
Scary thought, predicated on the fact that two-thirds of Americans are already overweight.
Researcher Lan Liang told Reuters:
“Genetically and physiologically, it should be impossible” for all U.S. adults to become overweight (but) … if the trends of the past 30 years persist, “that is the direction we’re going.”
In the sad-but-true category, the news should bode well for certain industries such as weigh-loss clinics (which are booming around Wichita) and the fitness industry.
Even Commercial Fitness Today blog editor Marc Onigman sees the potential:
Forget the economy. If you can’t make a go of a commercial fitness facility in this environment, you really ought to consider another industry.
My colleague Mark McCormick penned an outstanding column this morning on Karl Peterjohn’s defeat of longtime Sedgwick County Commissioner Tom Winters. It’s must reading for everyone worried about their taxes, and everyone who ought to be worried about the long-term health of the Wichita economy.
Here’s the point that I wonder how many of the anti-tax crowd grasp: Economic development isn’t a spectator sport. It’s a full-contact sport populated by cities and states with large war chests that want our businesses, including our aviation anchors. We don’t set the market for prosperous businesses in Wichita; we participate in it.
No one can or should enjoy taxation. But is there anyone among us who wants to stand by and ogle a lower bill from the appraiser while watching the Cessna moving vans drive by on their way to North Carolina?
We’ve tried to make the point in the Eagle – several times – that the nationwide competition for industry has never been hotter. Cities and states want our airplane makers, not to mention other businesses, and they’re prepared to pay for them. Apparently we’ve failed.
There’s a balance out there that will have to be achieved between reckless government spending and equally reckless anti-taxation zealots. Or Wichita will suffer. Mightily.