Southern Politicians Take On The Fats, Or Fatphobia And The Constitution

What better way to kick off the forty days of fasting for Lent than preventing restaurants from serving fat people? Representative W.T. Mayhall, Jr., a retired pharmaceutical salesman with DuPont-Merck, proposed a bill to the Mississippi State Legislature whereby restaurants "shall not be allowed to serve food to any person who is obese." Mississippi's obesity rate — the highest in the nation — costs the state's Medicare and Medicaid budget $444 million annually, or $263 per capita.

How will Mr. Mayhall distinguish between the merely pleasantly plump and the truly "obese?" To sniff out would-be offenders of the proposed bill, scales would be installed at restaurants from Gulfport to Tupelo; those with a Body Mass Index (BMI) of 30 or higher would be refused service. According to a 2007 report from the Trust in America's Health (TFAH), this means over thirty percent of Mississippi residents would have a hard time settling down at the local buffet line.

Furthermore, the choice of BMI as the "illegally fat in a restaurant"-benchmark reflects Mayhall's poor understanding of who is truly a heifer. BMI isn't an accurate indicator of obesity as body compositions vary among individuals. Body-fat percentages, calculated by pinching thicknesses of skinfolds or using a small electrical charge (an, oh so, appetizing amuse-bouche), are only slightly more precise. To truly predict potential risk for disease, waist circumference measurement is the best. Therefore, like the salespeople at Victoria's Secret, should restaurant greeters drape measuring tape around their necks, ready to ask party size and waist size?

Besides the humility of size stipulations, does no one else see Grandma's famous prejudice on the scale? I am appalled that a southern state, infamous for its history of discrimination and regressive social policy, would dare propose such a bill. Institutionalized Fatphobia appears to be the twenty-first century's latest brand of hatred written into law. Obesity does not stem from gluttony or merely eating at too many Denny's, but from real problems like poor education and social isolation. It is a serious health issue with sociological and psychological causes. Like trying to hide cellulite with sunless tanning, banning guests from eating out will not cure obesity.

Returning home to Kentucky — home of Colonel Sanders and fried chicken — reminded me that wider girths are as good an indication of lower latitudes as heavier drawls. Dairy Queen, Popeye's and McDonald's are always less than a fifteen-minute drive, but ask for wheat germ, tofu and organic arugula, and you'll be met with blank stares. Weighing Willie Dean and then withholding wings isn't going to stop him from ordering delivery. Answering the door on Friday night, will you be greeted by a pimply-faced fifteen-year-old with a pizza box and scales?

Rep. Mayhall hopes to trim fat from his state's budget, but his proposed ban is not the recipe for success. He might retort that his proposed bill is Mississippi's version of New York City's ban on trans fats at restaurants, but he puts the responsibility on the customer and not the proprietor. However, neither measure will eradicate obesity. Instead of asking who is obese, we need to ask why.

Follow Louise McCready on Twitter: www.twitter.com/lmccready

Comments

[DemandTruth]

Yep. Fatties are still the ONE group it's okay for EVERYONE to discriminate against and make fun of. If anyone really wanted to make a difference, they would make healthy, organic food available CHEAPLY and ABUNDANTLY in stores, fast food chains, etc. Many people don't have the time or money to eat healthy - I'm sorry but it's true. Before we ban fat people from restaraunts, how about banning the DOLLAR MENU at Mickie D's or the King!? What about health food restaraunts or healthy options in regular restaraunts? Are fat people to be banned from those as well? This is really getting ridiculous. There are some who would take away health care for fatties. Or make them pay more for their health care. Even THAT would seem to make more sense (if any of this makes any sense at all) than banning people from restaraunts. But if we're gonna do that, I think we should ban ALL PEOPLE OVER 60 from restaraunts and take away all their health care, because they are obviously a greater risk for heart disease and other illnesses than younger people! A definite greater drain on our healthcare system than even a young fattie!

ps. I'd like to ask Mr. Weightloss himself Mike Huckabee if he had ANY healthcare from a doctor while he was losing weight. If he saw a doctor AT ALL to monitor his progress or health, or if he was given any HELP in the form of prescription diet aids while he lost all that weight. Then I'd like to ask him if he'd have been able to lose any weight at all if forced to go without healthcare and forced to eat on food stamps.

REALLY! I can understand banning smoking, because second hand smoke can harm innocent people in the vicinity. But let's just take a prevenatative measure and OUTLAW all buffets first, shall we?

[LewFoo]

OK, so you don't want to ban obese people from using public accommodations to maintain their gargantuan flabs. But the fact remains that they are a measureable drain on our health-care system as well as a pathetically horrible example to their progeny. So what’s a progressive/conservative society to do? Tax them into health! For every BMI index point over 28 (and, YES, BMI has been proven to be a very good indicator of excessive weight), add an extra 1% to the price of their food. You’ll see those weight-challenged citizens slim down in no time.

[Pieface]

It's become fashionable to prohibit smoking in bars and restaurants throughout the land, so why wouldn't it be good to add fat people to the prohibition? Of course, history has shown that prohibition doesn't work, so we'd probably wind up with tons of fat people running amok.

[hopeless277]

Have you seen those men? Maybe they could use a little restraint in THEIR eating habits. You can always tell a corrupt politician. Just look at his belly. The fatter, the more corrupt. Denny Hastert and Don Young are prime examples.

[jvarga]

This bill was proposed by Representatives W.T. Mayhall, Bobby Shows, and John Read.

Rep. Read gave an interview where he mentions that he proposed this knowing it would never pass. He said his purpose in proposing the legislation was to bring to light the tremendous problem of obesity in his state. he concludes with pointing out that he might not be able to eat at restaurants under these guidelines.
http://news.yahoo.com/s/ap/20080204/ap_on_fe_st/odd_no_serve_law_22)

CBSnews also covers this http://www.cbsnews.com/stories/2008/02/05/national/main3790418.shtmll)