Feb
01
Posted on 02-01-2008 at 02:40pm
Legislation To Ban Obese From Dining In Public
Filed Under (Food & Restaurants, You've Got To Be Kidding!, Health, Government & Politics) by Cuppa Joe on 02-01-2008

Hard to imagine what might be behind a legislative proposal in Mississippi filed Friday which seeks to ban obese people from eating in restaurants. Using the BMI scale, the bill (HB282) demands that any customer whose BMI is 30 or above be refused entry or service.

Blogger Sandy Swarcz at Junkfood Science tried to find out from the bill’s sponsor (one W.T. Mayhall Jr., born in Memphis and a U of M alum) what was happening and writes:

“I called lead author, Rep. Mayhall, and asked if this was serious legislation or tongue-in-cheek to make a point. He kindly took a moment to answer my question while the legislature was in session. He said that while, regrettably, he doesn’t believe his bill will pass, this is serious. He wrote it, he said, because of the “urgency of the obesity crisis and need for government action.” He hopes it will “call attention to the serious problem of obesity and what it is costing the Medicare system.”

Does Mayhall know Stacey Campfield? ‘Cause I’m thinking they might just get along.

[Note from your Health Editor: I have commentary on this as well, and Aunt B says, “But I’m fat! And I have tourist dollars! And a dream of eating red hot tamales in the Delta!”]

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Comments

Nashveggie on 1 February, 2008 at 2:44 pm #

This could cause a collapse of the Tunica tourist market!


Angie B on 1 February, 2008 at 2:55 pm #

Why is it the government thinks they need to stick their noses into every aspect of our lives?

I’m not overweight, but that is totally ridiculous


christy n on 1 February, 2008 at 3:43 pm #

I totally think we should ban gossip-y people from talking. And blogging. [**poof** as Christy is banned from all communication]


gavin on 1 February, 2008 at 3:46 pm #

i agree with angie, why do government officials feel they need to pass a law for everything. at some point we will govern ourselves out of a democracy.


inevitable | the view from below on 1 February, 2008 at 3:53 pm #

[…] See also: Women’s Health News and Music City Bloggers […]


Slartibartfast on 1 February, 2008 at 4:02 pm #

Rep Mayhall - why not just make people over a certain bmi wear a scarlet “F” ?

Or a Big Mac armband?

If you’re going to do it, do it.


Jim Voorhies on 1 February, 2008 at 4:46 pm #

Loud plaids. Make them all wear loud plaids. *looks down* Um, nevermind about the plaid.


Short and Fat on 1 February, 2008 at 4:47 pm #

This bill is genius. Only it doesn’t really go far enough.

What about grocery stores? Kwik-E-Marts? Food is sold lots of places.

What we SHOULD do is put iron masks on everyone with a high BMI to completely restrict caloric intake.


grandefille on 1 February, 2008 at 7:40 pm #

Oh, I have a whole LIST of people I want to ban from Wal-Mart, if that’s where we’re going with this. We can even start mandating the square yardage of fabric covering one’s body according to girth.

~ starts fumbling for John Hood’s and Bill Ketron’s numbers ~


Roux on 3 February, 2008 at 9:36 am #

I knew it! I just knew it! I told hubby “Mark my words: Now that they’ve got smokers on the run, they gonna be comin’ for da fat people next.” Well, they can kiss my ‘Fat-bottomed girl’s’ beeehind.

BTW grandefille, I’m with you on that banning people from Wal-Mart list! Show ya mine (list!) if you’ll show me yours…lol


Jus’ Rouxin’ Around on 3 February, 2008 at 12:25 pm #

[…] http://www.musiccitybloggers.com/2008/02/01/legislation-to-ban-obese-from-dining-in-public/ […]


Knol on 18 February, 2008 at 1:07 pm #

i agree with Roux!