I knew the UK had a high percentage of obese people like the US but looking it up - yikes. I can't imagine the immense burden of cost all of that is on a socialized healthcare system, especially with my generation saying how healthy and fine it is to BE obese. Only interactions I've had with the NHS was calling once because I was an idiot who left my inhaler at home in the US and tried to get one OTC, so I called the help line! I always remember to keep one in my suitcase now for when I come over in case I need it. One cousin - my aunty - is a retired nurse midwife and her son is a cardiologist. It's been interesting talking about the comparisons of our systems.
It makes me wonder about Dim and Jenn's healthcare, considering here it's tied to employment (very stupid decision made so long ago). They're going to be paying for their lifestyle fairly quickly in their health but don't bother changing habits to be better, healthier people for their kids because they would rather gorge and don't care. Don't they see what they are doing to themselves?!
Yeah it isn't great. It's crippling everyone, but doctors are too scared to tell people they are in need of help with their weight for fear of being called a bigot. And then there's the old saying of you can lead a horse to water, but you can't make it drink. So many people claim they want help but then don't want to put the work in. It is a huge lifestyle change, but I can also sympathise because in the Western world we have had lifestyles of abundant unhealthy junk food forced onto us and at a cheap price. Not excusing them, but I can see how we are in this mess for sure! I mostly sympathise with the doctors though. The nutritionists, dieticians, all of the specialists. I can't imagine having to tell someone if they don't sort out their eating habits, they'll drop dead before their kids reach their 20's and then having said person go "Nahh, not me, Doc! Picture of health!" It's the kind of thing I can imagine Tim and Jenn to do, and as much as I dislike them, I would never wish for them to experience a heart attack or anything like that. Those kids need their parents, as useless as they are
And I had heard you guys have work linked healthcare packages. My partner recently got one with their job, and to qualify for a bunch of the benefits, his coworkers have to use a pedometer to count steps and stuff. It's mental. But yeah... Tim and Jenn need to sort themselves out, Jenn especially. Gaining as much weight as she has done, being female and heading towards menopause years, so needs to be so careful. Being obese + increased risk of osteoporosis = nightmare. Never mind her heart.