Obesity and Mississippi's House of Representatives Bill 282

Surely, this Bill was not initiated to make a mockery of our legislative system, so let us take a closer look at what this Bill proposes, how this Bill could possibly be implemented, and better solutions to the obesity crisis that our Nation currently faces.

What is House Bill 282? The Mississippi House of Representatives Bill 282 requests that it be made unlawful for any food establishment to serve any person who is obese based on the state Department of Health's definition of obesity, and also makes the Department of Health responsible for enforcement of this law (Mississippi Legislature, 2008). The primary author for this Bill is Republican Representative W. T. Mayhall, Jr. of Mississippi District 40; Mayhall is retired from DuPont-Merck pharmaceutical sales. Other authors of Bill 282 are Republican Representative John Read of Mississippi District 112 and Democratic Representative Bobby Shows of Mississippi District 89; Read is a former pharmacist and Shows is a former businessman.

Many people are debating whether this Bill is serious or simply a stunt. Representative Read, during an interview this morning on The Early Show, expressed surprise that this Bill has made publicity nationwide; however, this Bill is being discussed as far away as the United Kingdom and Australia. Read also stated that this Bill was serious, but hinted that it may have been more "seriously" aimed at drawing attention to the obesity epidemic that is sweeping the United States and affecting individuals of all ages in the hopes that, according to Read, one or two people will sit up and take notice to make the necessary lifestyle changes to lead a healthy life. I say the motives or reasons behind Bill 282 are irrelevant!

How would this Bill possibly be implemented? Would there be a ruler mounted at the entrance of every restaurant, located conveniently beside a pair of scales? Would the cashiers have to pull out a tape measure and measure every client's waist line, turning away everyone who has a waist circumference greater than 35 inches? Would the Government Issue a BMI card similar to the driver's license? Or, better yet, have a person's BMI listed on the driver's license?

Is overweight or obesity the new Black? If House Bill 282 were a bill prohibiting a specific race from entering or being served in restaurants, those who wrote the bill would be tarred, feathered, and run out of town...that is, I am sure, after someone laid a serious hurting on them. Certainly, they would be removed from office! How is this NOT blatent discrimination? The authors of this Bill cannot be faulted for their good intentions, however wrong they were in this specific attempt to effect significant change in the overweight status quo.

The fact remains, that Bill 282 only perpetuates the prejudices so prevalent in society today regarding the overweight individual. Are there lazy overweight people? Absolutely! Are there lazy thin people? Without a doubt! This Bill is obviously ridiculous; nevertheless, I, for one, was extremely offended and outraged after learning of this Bill. Truly restaurants offer a convenience only...if someone wants to eat unhealthily; he or she can easily do so in their own home. This bill would accomplish nothing other than being instrumental in putting many restaurants out of business, which would have an extremely negative impact on the economy (certainly not needed when an economic recession is, arguably, looming in the near future).

Not only does this Bill show a serious lack of judgment and common sense on the part of the authors, but it also demonstrates very clearly a serious lack of education in the causes and effective treatments for obesity. Do the authors seriously think that people need or want a government that dictates what, when, where, and how to eat? Do these "law makers" think that fat people do not know they are fat? That an obese person has not tried innumerable (some downright dangerous) diets in an attempt to become thinner? Why do you think it is that bariatric surgery is the fastest growing surgery in the United States? Is it so hard to think outside the box to find a solution that would actually have the potential of changing the lives of those suffering from obesity?

As someone who struggles with weight related issues day-by-day, hour-by-hour, and sometimes minute-by-minute, I can say with authority that instead of creating more ostracism and prejudice against the overweight, the Government could provide information to the general public on how to eat healthy, how to incorporate physical activity into their daily lives, how to develop effective coping mechanisms, how to deal with eating disorders, and initiate programs that will help with the distribution of this information. The Government could ensure that healthy foods are not only easily accessible, but affordable to all Americans.

Yes, the USDA has made recommendations for healthy eating, they even have a website that will tell a person based on height, weight, age, and gender just how many calories to eat and in what quantities to maintain their current weight or lose weight at a healthy rate (United States Department of Agriculture, 2008). Yet, not only do most people not know how to eat healthy, many do not even know these resources are available.

If lawmakers in Mississippi or any state are serious about truly wanting to make a difference in the lives of the overweight, why not have a gym or wellness center in each county or parish that provides access to nutritionists and have membership and access to these services FREE of charge to every resident? Why not offer classes that not only teach the community about healthy eating, but also how to prepare food in a healthy way that is easy to do at home and is not disagreeable in taste?

Before any objections are made about the costs of operating a gym or wellness center with no cost to local residents, I would like to say that it is possible! Not only is it possible, the residents of Radford City, Virginia have been enjoying and making use of free access to pleasant recreational facilities both indoors and out for many years (City of Radford Recreation Department, 2008).

We elect individuals to represent us in governmental law and decision making, and only ask in return that they provide fair representation to all residents. Why not do something constructive that does not waste tax dollars on bogus bills that will never be made into law! Instead, why not make changes that will actually have a chance at defeating obesity like those suggested above.

References

City of Radford Recreation Department. (2008). Click here to visit website.

Mississippi Legislature. (2008). House Bill 282. Click here to visit website.

United States Department of Agriculture. (2008). My Pyramid Plan. Click here to visit website.