Should Insurance Companies reward customers having good eating habits?

Should Insurance Companies reward customers having good eating habits?

Scientific studies reveal that there is a definite correlation to what we eat to our health conditions. Lot of research is going on and there have been many studies which have established this correlation. Recently, we have come across two different studies which have shown that the two most deadly diseases especially are related to the lifestyle and prove have definite correlation to what we eat.
Study 1 “Soft drinks raise heart attack risk”.

“Drinking one sugar laden soft drink every day dramatically raises the odds of having a heart attack” A study has confirmed. Diet varieties of Soft drinks /Cakes/ Ice-cream /or frozen yogurt (that use artificial sweeteners) got a clean bill of health. It is found out that a daily sugar sweetened drink raised risk of heart attack – including a deadly one – by 20%.
The study, reported in the journal “Circulation” also found that the more sugary drinks someone had, including still fruit squashes with added sugar, the chances of risk rose. Water, coffee and tea are the best drink choices, followed by low fat milk. Tea and coffee are okay too, but only if taken without sugar.
Study 2 “Regular & daily intake of large bowl of white rice increases chances of diabetes”

British Medical Journal has covered a study which was conducted over a period of 4 to 22 years. According to this “Eating one large bowl of white rice every day increases the risk of diabetes by 11%.”

A team of Harvard School of Public Health and Harvard Medical School who looked at 2 studies in Asians (Chinese and Japanese) and two in western populations found that every large bowl of white rice eaten a day is linked to an 11% increased risk.

As these studies are having large sample base and are conducted over long period we come to the conclusion that it is high time that the insurance companies in India will start rewarding people, who have healthy food habits. At the same time in comparison to this diet if the person consumes too much of sugar laden soft drink or is habitually a rice eater then premiums can be loaded.

We invite comments from you.