Weigh Less, Pay Less: Whole Foods Offers (Employee) Discount Based On BMI

[Newsjock]

Source: Jezebel

Several readers have alerted us to a new program whereby Whole Foods will offer steeper employee discounts to people with lower BMIs. Exactly how little they have to weigh to pay only $37 per organic oyster mushroom, after the jump.

Whole Foods CEO John Mackey explains the program in a letter, reproduced below. Apparently it's part of an initiative to reduce health care costs, which is interesting since Mackey is against the health care reforms that would actually reduce costs for all people.

Note that Mackey knows BMI isn't a perfect measure of health, but at least it's cheap! Even more fun, though, is the poster for the new Healthy Discount program, breaking down exactly what BMI range his minions need in order to get various discounts on his Tofu Pups.

If your BMI is above 30, you'll get to keep the original 20% employee discount, but you'll paying more than your thinner co-workers, who can knock as much as 30% off. Because if public health research has taught us anything, it's that reducing people's buying power totally makes them healthier. Stay classy, Whole Foods.

Read more: http://jezebel.com/5456561/weigh-less-pay-less-whole-foods-offers-discount-based-on-bmi

[Brickbat]

1. WTF.

Sorry, that was directed at the CFO, not the OP.

[Phoebe Loosinhouse]

2. Ensigns "Wellness" initiatives in HCR will ultimtely do the same thing

Just another way to raise rates for certain people.

[belpejic]

3. Stupid idea from an insane and softminded CEO

All you need to know about Whole Foods is that the CEO, John Mackey, is a climate change denier. Everything follows from that. No need to shop there.

[Tim01]

4. Somebody has gone kind of crazy. nt

[blueworld]

5. Undoubtedly, the anorexics get lunch free. What a total ijut. n/t

[hatrack]

6. Or maybe Whole Paycheck pays them?

Just an idea . . .

[jbond56]

8. so true

I have 12% body fat. According to the retarded bmi chart I'm obese.

[Zywiec]

9. Is that because of muscle mass?

Since we know the majority of Americans with a high BMI is due to muscle and not fat.

:eyes:

[jbond56]

10. height and muscle

I'm 6'2 and muscular. Most athletes are considered overweight by the bmi scale. If your tall and an athlete your bmi is probably obese. Most people are fat because their diet is based on carbs. carbs make you fat!

[Zywiec]

14. My only point is that the majority of people with a high BMI

are fat and not athletic or muscular. It is still a good tool for the general population.

[Javaman]

22. But don't you see how the results are skewed?

granted americans aren't an athletic bunch, but how is one to know?

like the previous poster, I too am 6'2" and weigh 190 pounds, I run and play volley ball. I'm in very good shape, yet according to the BMI chart, I'm obese.

So who is to say?

The BMI chart is total and complete bullshit.

[Zywiec]

30. What BMI chart says you're obese?

Please send me the link, I'd love to see it.

Here is the one from the Department of Heath and Human Services that shows you're normal weight.

http://www.nhlbisupport.com/bmi/

The BMI chart is not total and complete bullshit.

[Javaman]

34. Last year when I went to my doctor, he did a BMI test on me.

No I don't go with pop culture charts. I get checked by my doc. And he told me that the BMI charts are updated yearly. Last year I was, now I'm not. That supports my point on what I stated.

[Zywiec]

38. The Department of HHS is Pop Culture?

You didn't support your point. Your height and weight don't justify you ever being called obese as you stated.

Perhaps you need a new doctor? Maybe one that studies the human mind.

[Javaman]

39. so he gets his BMI chart from HHS

and this one is from HHS, so therefore, they change the rate by which Americans determine their BMI. Still proves my point.

aka pop culture, it changes with the wind.

[nadinbrzezinski]

48. I hate to point this out, but your doctor was full of it

the charts are not revised every year

[Fleshdancer]

13. It goes the opposite way too for people who are "skinny fat".

You can be completely unhealthy and still be in the "normal" range on the BMI scale if you're smaller.

[Zywiec]

16. How do you measure unhealthy?

Using some of those other silly things like blood pressure, blood sugar, pulse rate, cholesterol, etc?

[Fleshdancer]

18. and body fat percentage as well. n/t

[Kalyke]

29. Roll your eyes if you want... but,

I realize that the MAJORITY of Americans have high BMIs due to fat, but there are several Americans, myself included, that have high BMIs due to muscle.

Muscle simply weighs more than fat and muscle on smaller people, like me, tend to over-inflate our weight, while allowing us to still be trim and wear smaller-sized clothes. My BMI does not fit my jeans size.

Ergo, the BMI charts don't necessary work out well for people who, well, work out.

[Zywiec]

32. The military uses a simple tape test for people whose BMI might not be accurate

because of muscle. Measure the neck and waist and you get a more accurate body-fat reading.

Everyone can shit all over the BMI chart because of the very few people it doesn't measure accurately while Americans continue to get fatter and fatter.

[elehhhhna]

49. bulimics get TWO lunches. free.

that ceo is nuts. Did he go to the same MBA program as GWB?

[LoZoccolo]

7. I think it's a good idea. n/t

[Johonny]

26. It's only a good idea if it reduces health care costs

the cost is of insurance. If he creates a healthier work staff logically their health insurance should go down right... but there is no reason the company has to decrease the cost. Healthy workers just means more profit for the insurance company.

[Fleshdancer]

11. I hate that people will just buy into the whole BMI thing without thinking

BMI doesn't measure your health, it's just a number based on your height and weight. Athletes with a high amount of lean muscle mass will most likely have a BMI in the "overweight" category while smaller people with 40% or more body fat can be in the "normal" range just because they're "skinny fat".

I guess it's too much for a company to think through all the reasons why their idea is stupid. Here's a crazy thought...how about giving employees discounts and/or other "perks" based on how they actually do their job? Or maybe paying them well enough so they can afford that $37 mushroom without the employee discount?

[Gormy Cuss]

27. Here's a better thought: make it illegal for an employer to set incentives based on weight

unless and until the employer has demonstrated a business reason for the employer to care. In this case, unless Mackey is paying for their health insurance premiums, there is no compelling business reason other than P.R.

Hey Mackey, you want healthier employees? Let them eat WFs products for free, and give all of them prorated benefits like vacation, sick leave, and health insurance.

[Fleshdancer]

31. I agree 100%

Making this crap illegal should have been my first point.

[Toasterlad]

28. Exactly. BMI Is a Completely Meaningless Number.

It amazes me how much credence this ridiculously unscientific number is given even by certain medical professionals.

[Romulox]

12. This won't be implemented in Michigan. Against our state version of Civil Rights Act

(Elliott-Larsen Civil Rights Act) which bars discrimination based on weight.

[marmar]

15. Just when you think your jaw can't hit the floor anymore......

OK, despite the fact the I love their Gouda, fresh breads and Allegro coffees, I'm staying the hell out of Whole Paycheck.

[PassingFair]

36. I've switched to BetterHealth...

Headquartered in Novi....

The one near me doesn't carry much in the
way of fresh produce, but they have the
Tofurky we need on holidays and the Vegenaise
my daughter needs to exist.

I never like going to WholeFoods anyway, when
I found out what a dick the owner was it was
easy to boycott them.

[Lex]

17. So the employees who may need healthy food the most . . . get the least discount?

Wow, this guy is a genius.

[Vinca]

19. Goes along with charging people with pre-existing conditions double insurance rates.

[belpejic]

20. Hey,WF CEO Mackey is opposed to health care reform

So maybe this is all part of his demented master plan.

[Javaman]

21. There is so much more to this than you realize...

I have a very intimate connection to whole foods, I will leave it at that.

1) you have to get a dna test. They swab your cheek. It's done by a private company. Why? Why doesn't their health care provider do it?

2) their BMI chart will change. All BMI charts over the last several years have gone through revisions. So what happens if it changes and suddenly you find yourself on the low end?

3) suppose you are predisposed to high cholesterol? And you can't get it down unless you take meds, but suppose those same meds have side effect warnings you don't like? do you get penalized?

4) suppose you have a pre-existing condition that prevents you from taking advantage of the program? You're fucked.

The whole thing is bullshit from the get go. It's all so employees who don't even shop at whole foods because they can't afford it on what whole foods pays them can get an additional 10% off their already 20% discount.

I told my intimate connection to tell whole foods to go fuck themselves sideways.

this is the legacy of mackey's moronic alternative to national health care.

[Fleshdancer]

23. WTF??!?!

:wow:

What's the general mood inside WF regarding this insanity? DNA tests? I'm speechless.

[CTyankee]

24. He should be offering all employees exercise programs and nutritional

counseling. That way, everybody benefits and everybody is healthier.

[Javaman]

25. ahhh but that would require them to actually spend money on their employees...

don't hold your breath on that one.

[tonysam]

33. BMI doesn't mean shit. This is nothing but discrimination.

Whole Foods can kiss my ass. I wouldn't go to their shitbag outfits anyway.

[Scout]

35. i already don't shop there, so i can't boycot. what a fucking dickhead. n/t

[Dinger]

37. Glad They're Not Near Me

And lucky for them too.

[Pithlet]

40. I'm already boycotting. This just makes me even happier that I'm doing so.

What an asshole.

[dustbunnie]

41. God do I ever fracking hate corp speak with a passion...

Core values, health immersion program, stakeholders... plegh, what horse shit talk!!! :puke:

That being said, there's nothing wrong with encouraging health with incentives for not smoking and getting one's cholesterol and blood pressure under control. It's not like anyone's being punished... everyone's still getting the basic discount. Just that those who quit smoking and lose weight are rewarded for it. Emps at corps get extra brownie points for all kinds of crap all the time. This is no different. And those who are overweight and happy don't particularly care about their blood pressure and cholesterol, so why should they change their habits for an extra 10% off groceries?

[Scout]

42. such ignorance

"those who are overweight and happy don't particularly care about their blood pressure and cholesterol"

maybe they are overweight and happy because there's not a god damn thing wrong with their blood pressure and their cholesterol.

:puke: your own self

[dustbunnie]

43. Most of my family is chronically obese, so you don't have to lecture me.

They're very happy with who they are, and are not interested in changing for anyone, and they sure as HELL are not changing for their health. I've listened to and helped them with their various health problems for years, so :puke: back atcha and your comments about ignorance. What are you, thirteen? Did you even read the fucking memo? Those who are fat and otherwise healthy also have the chance to be rewarded with the huge massive 10% discount if they lose weight. I'm sure that's all it will take to entice many, just as it will seduce smokers into quitting. :eyes:

[Scout]

45. if they are otherwise healthy, then why should they bother to lose weight

and i'm quite a bit older than 13, are you?

silly rabbit :eyes:

[dustbunnie]

46. Exactly. Why should they? I can't imagine why anyone would bother for 10% off...

when you can go to Publix down the street and get groceries 10% cheaper without having to do a damn thing to yourself.

[stanwyck]

44. According to the BMI index, many female Olympic athletes

would fail to get Mackey's discount. Nevermind they could kick his ass at any number of sports.

[Lex]

47. I wish they would

just kick his ass.

[Generator]

50. Fascist Orwellian Republican creeps=whole foods

Ah yes, I remembered reading they are anti-union and anti-universal health care. Just typed it into Google-there was an article in the New Yorker recently-I skimmed it.

DNA swabs to get your discount?!

Christ on a fucking cracker.

It makes me want to smoke a cigar in Mr. Ceo's face while eating a creme filled donut and taking a shit on his pristine floor. I really don't like being controlled. I thought that WAS the point of the sixties movement.

Instead we have this legacy.

[slampoet]

51. The Eat Organic crowd are often like this. In RI they recently had to fire the admin of the Farmer's

Market because she was trying to deny booth space and harass overweight female vendors to keep them from selling their farm goods. First she started picking on the overweight women of color, then the white women, and after a probation period where she was warned about her behavior she STILL shot her mouth off and got fired but with FULL unemployment benefits.