Hidden costs of super-sizing: 10x more than the meal

By at 1:17 pm Thursday, Jun 1

A study from the University of Wisconsin-Madison has concluded that the whole cost of a $0.67 fast-food meal supersizing is nearly ten times that, once you factor in all the hidden costs of overeating.
Based on their estimates, each fast-food "value" meal would cost an adult 5 cents more in fuel expenses -- as heavier passengers reduce a car's fuel efficiency - and about 35 cents in overall food costs, since heavier people need more calories.

Add to that the healthcare cost per super-size meal -- which ranges from 82 cents to $6.64 -- and these fast-food deals are no deal at all, Close and Schoeller assert.

"In essence," they write, "the more a person overeats, the greater the financial cost."

Link (via Health Hacker)

Cory Doctorow

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