Your week in health
The health care reform debate keeps on churning, new cautions on swine flu and ... doctors giving up their lab coats? Here are the health news highlights from this week.
+ The CDC suggests that the key to bringing down health care costs is to get people to lose weight, raising a bunch of questions about how the government and businesses can push Americans to shed the pounds. How about a fat tax? Could a tax on fatty foods help cover the cost of reform? Or, maybe employers should give discounts to their workers who slim down? Meanwhile, others ask, why should employers have a say in our health care at all?
+ A federal panel advises pregnant women, children and health care workers should be among the five priority groups to be vaccinated against the H1N1 virus. But how will they convince folks to get the shot? And are the priorities fair?
+ Tanning beds are as dangerous as cigarettes, says a new study. That hasn't stopped people from using them, however.
+ Rice Krispies help improve immunity? The new box claims it is loaded with vitamins that can do just that, begging an interesting question of FDA regulators.
+ And you thought doctors were up in arms about health care reform... Well, here's something that might surprise you. There's a debate in docs circles about whether they should ditch their trademark white coats. This is my favorite quote from the story: "When a patient shares intimacies with you and you examine them in a manner that no one else does, you’d better look like a physician — not a guy who works at Starbuck’s.”
And with that, have a happy and healthy weekend!
