Spring Break
Obese? No service.
Issue date: 2/12/08 Section: Forum
In 2007 Mississippi was named the fattest state in the nation, according to calorielab.com.
It is reported that two-thirds of Mississippi adults are overweight and 30 percent are considered obese.
Mississippi recently introduced House Bill 282 on Jan. 25, 2007, which "prohibits food establishments from serving food to any person who is obese," as was stated on billstatus.is.state.ms.us.
This would make it illegal for restaurants to serve anyone with a body mass index over 30, the threshold to obesity. Health inspectors would actually be able to revoke the license of any restaurant with multiple violations. So if you are considered obese based on the BMI scale, food establishments in Mississippi can refuse you service.
This all depends on the BMI chart, which has been proven to be inaccurate. The BMI chart only takes into consideration one's weight and height - leaving out body frame and muscle mass.
This is yet another way for people in the United States to discriminate and be discriminated against.
However, politicians who introduced the bill have admitted they did not expect it to pass and that it is only to raise awareness about the problem in Mississippi.
Mississippi representative John Read is one of these politicians.
Rep. Read said this is the number one problem in the state and needs to be addressed. It is also important to add that according to the BMI scale, Read's BMI is 32.1. This puts him in the overweight category and he would be refused service at restaurants in his state.
It is true this problem needs to be addressed - nation wide, not just in Mississippi - but this is not the way to do it. Even if this bill was not intended to pass, what is it telling people? Is it really raising awareness about health or simply making people mad? The latter seems more likely.
There is a current nation wide obesity epidemic and it is doubtful anyone would disagree. Something does need to be done about it but this frivolous law won't be setting a precedence anyone would follow.
Doesn't making healthier food available for every economic group seem to be a better solution than simply making it illegal for someone to eat out? Or what about more sensible options in the cafeteria for children - the ones who are truly starting to suffer?
Making people feel as though they are being punished is not the answer, even though an answer does need to be established.
Why doesn't the whole nation band together to help with this epidemic instead of leaving it up to each state to control a nation wide problem?
Editorials serve as a means for Barometer editors to offer commentary and opinions on issues both global and local, grand in scale or diminutive. The views expressed here are a reflection of the editorial board's majority.
It is reported that two-thirds of Mississippi adults are overweight and 30 percent are considered obese.
Mississippi recently introduced House Bill 282 on Jan. 25, 2007, which "prohibits food establishments from serving food to any person who is obese," as was stated on billstatus.is.state.ms.us.
This would make it illegal for restaurants to serve anyone with a body mass index over 30, the threshold to obesity. Health inspectors would actually be able to revoke the license of any restaurant with multiple violations. So if you are considered obese based on the BMI scale, food establishments in Mississippi can refuse you service.
This all depends on the BMI chart, which has been proven to be inaccurate. The BMI chart only takes into consideration one's weight and height - leaving out body frame and muscle mass.
This is yet another way for people in the United States to discriminate and be discriminated against.
However, politicians who introduced the bill have admitted they did not expect it to pass and that it is only to raise awareness about the problem in Mississippi.
Mississippi representative John Read is one of these politicians.
Rep. Read said this is the number one problem in the state and needs to be addressed. It is also important to add that according to the BMI scale, Read's BMI is 32.1. This puts him in the overweight category and he would be refused service at restaurants in his state.
It is true this problem needs to be addressed - nation wide, not just in Mississippi - but this is not the way to do it. Even if this bill was not intended to pass, what is it telling people? Is it really raising awareness about health or simply making people mad? The latter seems more likely.
There is a current nation wide obesity epidemic and it is doubtful anyone would disagree. Something does need to be done about it but this frivolous law won't be setting a precedence anyone would follow.
Doesn't making healthier food available for every economic group seem to be a better solution than simply making it illegal for someone to eat out? Or what about more sensible options in the cafeteria for children - the ones who are truly starting to suffer?
Making people feel as though they are being punished is not the answer, even though an answer does need to be established.
Why doesn't the whole nation band together to help with this epidemic instead of leaving it up to each state to control a nation wide problem?
Editorials serve as a means for Barometer editors to offer commentary and opinions on issues both global and local, grand in scale or diminutive. The views expressed here are a reflection of the editorial board's majority.
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