Mississippi law would ban serving obese diners

[megoat]

Banning fat people from restaurants. - By William Saletan - Slate Magazine

Fat people are less medically expensive than other people over a lifetime, according to a Dutch study. Findings: 1) Fat people cost more per year than smokers or nonfat nonsmokers do, but only up to age 56. 2) After that, smokers cost more. However, 3) fat people and smokers die earlier (by 4 and 7 years, respectively). Net result: "Lifetime health expenditure was highest among healthy-living people and lowest for smokers," with fat people in between. Conclusion: "Obesity prevention may be an important and cost-effective way of improving public health, but it is not a cure for increasing health expenditures." Critiques: 1) The study didn't include non-medical costs, such as lost productivity. 2) If saving money is our overriding goal, let's promote quick killers such as lung cancer. Old argument for the war on fat: Fat costs everyone money. New argument for the war on fat: Fat's costs are "immeasurable." (Related: Financial penalties for fat employees; obesity and responsibility; the war on smoking.)

That's interesting, Scott.

I've always wondered when health insurance companies were going to start figuring in someone's obesity when figuring out their premium the same way the do with smokers.....

[megoscott]

I don't know. I used to be very fat, I don't really think there's much the government or insurance companies could have done to make me change. I changed when I changed. Same with smoking. Even my argument about a food tax is really BS, because cigs hit $5 a pack thanks to California taxes and I didn't quit until I was ready.

[megoat]

I don't know. I used to be very fat, I don't really think there's much the government or insurance companies could have done to make me change.

I don't think the idea is to really make you change, but more to make you pay for your lifestyle choices.

I do agree with you on cheap fast food vs more expensive quality meals when "on the go". However, in grocery stores it's quite the opposite. Most of the processed salty or sweet foods are much more expensive than quality whole foods. Compare a bag of potato chips to a bag of raw potatoes. More food value in the potatoes than in the bag of chips and at a fraction of the cost. I feel because I'm broke most of the time it actually HELPS me at the grocery store. Junk food just doesn't really fit into my budget. A bag of carrots is 69 cents. A bag of cookies is $2.99.....

[Wee67]

Banning fat people from restaurants. - By William Saletan - Slate Magazine

Fat people are less medically expensive than other people over a lifetime, according to a Dutch study. Findings: 1) Fat people cost more per year than smokers or nonfat nonsmokers do, but only up to age 56. 2) After that, smokers cost more. However, 3) fat people and smokers die earlier (by 4 and 7 years, respectively). Net result: "Lifetime health expenditure was highest among healthy-living people and lowest for smokers," with fat people in between. Conclusion: "Obesity prevention may be an important and cost-effective way of improving public health, but it is not a cure for increasing health expenditures." Critiques: 1) The study didn't include non-medical costs, such as lost productivity. 2) If saving money is our overriding goal, let's promote quick killers such as lung cancer. Old argument for the war on fat: Fat costs everyone money. New argument for the war on fat: Fat's costs are "immeasurable." (Related: Financial penalties for fat employees; obesity and responsibility; the war on smoking.)

This is a very interesting and legitimate study. Not to be a contrarian, however, but it is only one study. It does raise many good points in area which has been based on assumptions and and "common sense." However, they're sevral other studies that show the opposite. The Dutch study is a good one, but it does not take into account the costs of income lost from decreased productivity, restricted activity, absenteeism and premature death. In my job I see a lot of single studies make headlines because of interesting findings (and they should), but I think they should be considered in the context of the majority of findings. (Most current research that I've come across usually only compares the health costs of obese people vs. smokers. Not obese vs. less heavy people) Who knows, as this is studied more and more, the Dutch study may prove to be correct.

I don't know. I used to be very fat, I don't really think there's much the government or insurance companies could have done to make me change. I changed when I changed. Same with smoking. Even my argument about a food tax is really BS, because cigs hit $5 a pack thanks to California taxes and I didn't quit until I was ready.

I think you really nailed the main and more important point here. Education is a HUGE help in these areas, but ultimately each indiviual has to decide they want it.

[Adam West]

Personally, I like the approach my own company.

Rather than charge higher premiums for smokers or the obese, they offer a cash incentive to those who smoke and are willing to quit and offer every employee gym membership reimbursements.

[jwyblejr]

I don't understand the reasoning that fast food joints will take the biggest hit. They're slowly switching over to healthier fares on their menus. The ones that will get hit the hardest would be the smaller restaurants.

[Marvelmania]

So they bribe you into getting healthy. The good old American way
Getting back to the interview I saw with the Gov. this morning he did mention that it would be impossible to enforce such a law and even went as far as the apologize for bringing this up after being told that bringing shame to the obese by being refused sevice in a restaurant was the wrong approach.

[Mikey]

As a FAT GUY, let me say it's ironic this story was posted on Pancake Day

[MIB41]

Pretty soon this is no longer going to be a country of the free. People should be entitled to do as they please as long as they are not hurting anyone else. Obese individuals are not the reason for the insurance crisis in this country. When you have insurance companies making nearly a billion dollars in one quarter, ONE QUARTER, that should tell you everything you need to know. The USA is getting to be more and more like a Communistic country when
they start suggesting where your allowed to eat. That's ridiculous...

[ABMAC]

Pretty soon this is no longer going to be a country of the free. People should be entitled to do as they please as long as they are not hurting anyone else. Obese individuals are not the reason for the insurance crisis in this country. When you have insurance companies making nearly a billion dollars in one quarter, ONE QUARTER, that should tell you everything you need to know. The USA is getting to be more and more like a Communistic country when
they start suggesting where your allowed to eat. That's ridiculous...

You don't want to be fit and healthy like those skinny Communisticanos?

[Earth 2 Chris]

I'm not thin by any means, but it is kind of alarming when you think of the number of folks who are obese nowadays. And the number of those who are actually disabled by their weight. Those little motorized carts are always in full force at the local Wal-Mart, usually by people under age 50 or so.

People in general are heavier now than anytime I can remember. Just look at Brian's Plaid Stallion catalog photos. All the men weigh in at 175 lbs tops. If you find a group of 10 grown men, I bet 9 out of 10 would be over 200 lbs, with many being what is deemed obese.

Its not just the fast food, but lack of excerise and hard, physical labor that most folks used to have to do. Office jobs and long hours on the computer and in front of the boob tube plus fatty foods = an overweight country. Of course this law is ridiculous and offensive, and clearly not the answer. But as others have said, it was only a matter of time before some nut tried to make being fat illegal.

Chris

[Marvelmania]

People now days are just more "big boned"

[Earth 2 Chris]

Fashion models in general are thin and attactive. You can't judge the rest of Humanity by those freaks.

True, but some of the models in those catalogs looked like they pulled them from the shipping department. They didn't look as "polished" as today's models. Like how Wal-Mart uses "associates" and their families in their sales circulars.

Chris

[brannon86]

Bill

Thats so stupid. Who the Hell thought of crap like that. Whats next, they are going to stop serving ugly people. Well I guess I cant eat out anymore then, because Im ugly.....Stupid, Stupid....

[Johnny]

Ant you're cracking me up today.

That bill is inane. Besides it would just drive the crappy fattening food underground. Shady looking guys lurking in the shadows in alleyways. Big Mac's and Whoppers under their overcoats waiting for their next victim.