What Next? No Diabetics in Pastry Shops?

I guess this is old news at this point, but I think it will strike a chord with you readers. I found this story originally at the Junkfood Science blog, as linked possibly by Big Fat Deal. I honestly don't remember the direct path I took to finding the story.

However, you should check out this specific post for the whole story. Here's a bit to rope you in, and to help you understand why I'm so infuriated:

From Junkfood Science:

"It has actually happened. Lawmakers have proposed legislation that forbids restaurants and food establishments from serving food to anyone who is obese (as defined by the State [of Mississippi])....

[This is how the bill begins...]

HOUSE BILL NO. 282

An act to prohibit certain food establishments from serving food to any person who is obese, based on criteria prescribed by the state department of health; to direct the department to prepare written materials that describe and explain the criteria for determining whether a person is obese and to provide those materials to the food establishments; to direct the department to monitor the food establishments for compliance with the provisions of this act; and for related purposes.

"Should this pass, scales will appear at the door of restaurants, people with BMIs of 30 or higher won’t be allowed to be served. And to comply with government regulations, restaurants will have to keep records of patrons' BMIs.

Is this a tongue-in-cheek bill, meant to point out how absurd the war on obesity has become? Or do lawmakers actually believe the myths that gluttony is the cause for obesity and that it is the government’s role to force people to eat and live how it deems best?"

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Let's talk about BMI's for a second here. Maybe you're thinking, oh, people with a high BMI are probably those folks who are so obese they require a wheelchair and eat 10 pounds of food in a sitting. If that's what you think, you're totally wrong. The BMI of yours truly = 35. Even my hubby's BMI is between 30 and 31, and nobody looks at him and thinks, wow, there's a fat guy, or even an overweight guy.

Even though this is "junk" legislation at work, a bill intended to call attention to the fact that tons of Americans (or in this case, Mississippians) are overweight that will most likely be shot down, it's still horribly offensive. The fact that some cronies who are supposed to be community leaders just came up with a huge, governmental "NO FATTIES, LOLOLZ"-joke is disgusting. Not to mention that passing the act pretty much violates a person's right to friggin' eat and to be treated with some basic dignity. Not all fat people are born that way, and a number of fat folks definitely don't choose to be fat. Sometimes health factors or medications cause major weight gain, or make it nearly impossible to shed pounds.

What next, you hilarious pillars of comedy? No diabetics at the bakery? How about a food discount for people whose BMI classifies them as "underweight"? I know a good motivator for us fatties...how about no skinny people at the gym?

Get a #$%@&! life, Mississippi reps. Maybe health care programs that actually help people manage healthy lifestyles AND pay for better chronic care, especially for diseases that affect weight like type 2 diabetes, thyroid issues, and hormonal imbalances would be a GOOD government spending choice.

Oh, but there's nothing HILARIOUS about that. Hahahahaha, no fat chicks!! Put down those cookies, lard-ass!! LMFAO!

Okay, my fellow chubbies, here's a list of restaurants where we'll be allowed to eat in Mississippi:

The Lettuce Garden
La Casa Rice Cake
Celery Emporium
Grapefruit Bell

Gah. I just wonder how many taxpayer dollars were spent coming up with this "junk" bill.

I hope everybody went out and voted today if your state was having a primary. Here in PA, we won't vote until May.


Author's Note: Ugh, I apologize for the way this post looks! All the text running together...I think Blogger is pitching a fit because my RAM is overtaxed at present...