Soos Global Cap...'s  Instablog

To appreciate the true meaning of the title of this post, have a look at the following graph from the Robert Wood Johnson Foundation recently released report,

"F as in Fat 2011: How Obesity Threatens America's Future" :


That's an astounding shift in percentages of obesity across the entire country in less than just two decades!

I can't say that I have too many obesity specific stocks in my portfolio, though several of the larger pharma companies are involved both directly and indirectly.  I do, however, have a very small position in one company, Vivus (VVUS), that has been trying for some time to get FDA approval for their obesity drug, Qnexa. 

(I wrote an article about VVUS many months ago more focused on how I had used options to mitigate the extreme volatility that came with this name due to the on-again off-again FDA approval perceptions running rampant through the market "Vivus: My Cautionary Tale on Using Options, Dec. 20, 2010" ).

Apart from the obvious concerns raised by the chart above about our country's overall health and related policies, the implications of the data should heighten one's interest in the obesity investment theme.... other biotech companies with pending obesity drugs?  Diabetes related companies?  "Plus-sized" clothing manufacturers/retailers?

While each investor/reader is obliged to opine and decide for themselves as to the relevance of anything in this post to their unique financial profile, risk tolerances and investment goals, some consideration of this investment theme might yield interesting opportunities.  Look here and stay tuned for more on this in coming weeks.

Disclaimer: Please read and consider important information related to all communication made by Soos Global on SeekingAlpha.com by clicking here. This article is solely meant to be thought provoking and is not in any way meant to be personal investment advice.

Disclosure:  I am long VVUS and several large pharma stocks.  Positions may change at any time without notice.