Why Congress Won't Face the Fat Problem

Congress is “in denial” on one key health issue: obesity, writes Lisa Lerer for Politico. Obesity-related illnesses reportedly cost $147 billion, or 10% of medical spending, last year—and lawmakers say they’re focused on cost-cutting. But, experts say, “no one wants to tell Americans the bad news.” Notes one professor: “We haven’t come to grips with whether it is their own fault or a combination of factors.”

The Congressional Budget Office doesn’t see attacking obesity as a way to save, hurting “political will” on the matter. There’s also hypocrisy among legislators: Senate Finance Committee members discuss health reform over “Doritos, potato chips and beef jerky.” Some wonder how much input the government should have on what’s to varying degrees a personal-responsibility issue. Another hurdle: the difficulty of going up against the powerful food lobby. (More obesity stories.)