Diet Choices Can Affect Price of Health Insurance Quote

An individual's medical history can go a long way toward determining how high their typical health insurance quote will be. This is one reason why things like diet and exercise have been getting increasing exposure from the media as the debate over healthcare reform continues.

For example, the Robert Wood Johnson Foundation recently conducted a study in Philadelphia that found the average child purchases about 360 calories of food and beverages during each visit to a convenience store. When factoring in things like high sugar content in soda and other products, this can set the stage for serious health problems down the road.

The survey found that more than half of children in the study were likely to make such purchases at least once a day, five days a week, and that one can purchase an average of 356 calories with as little as one dollar.

Stung by public criticism, the snack food industry has actually launched an effort called the Healthy Weight Commitment Foundation. A report in the Los Angeles Times says that the industry-driven group tends to emphasize the importance of burning more calories than one consumes.

The stakes can be high for consumers because taking some basic steps toward health today can hold down the cost of a health insurance quote tomorrow.