Did you know that life and health insurance companies collectively hold $1.88 billion in fast food stocks? I guess from a life insurance perspective, investing in fast food makes sense — the longer you live, the bigger the life insurance payout to your family, so anything that kills customers faster is a good thing. I wonder if they also invest in cigarettes, motorcycles and skydiving? For health insurance companies, the benefits of investing in fast food is more murky — why would they want people with chronic health troubles caused by lousy eating habits? Maybe it’s strict economics — people like fast food, period, so it’s a great investment, especially in a recession. The Cambridge Health Alliance, which looked into the investments, urge the insurance companies to use their positions as stockholders to encourage healthier products. Let’s be real, though. McDonald’s’ success is not exactly built on salads and yogurt. {via WebMD}