We Can't Eat in Mississippi

[Guest guest]

A bill that would force some Mississippians to back away from the

buffet, or any restaurant, has begun its trip through the 2008

Legislature.

House Bill 282 would prohibit restaurants from serving food to

anyone who is obese, based on criteria from the state Department of

Health.

Restaurateurs and an advocacy group say the legislation is a waste

of time, and even one of the lawmakers pushing it doesn't expect it

to travel very far.

State Rep. Ted Mayhall, R-Southaven, said he's simply hoping

to " call attention to the problem. "

" No one's doing anything about it, " Mayhall said, referring to

obesity. " They just keep on going to the buffets and eating. "

Obesity makes people more susceptible to diabetes, which puts a

further strain on the state's financially-challenged Medicaid

program, he said.

A 2007 report put that state's obesity rate at 30.6 percent - the

worst in the nation.

Mayhall said the bill has been referred to a House subcommittee. If

it advances, it would be discussed in the House Public Health and

Human Services Committee.

Dr. Ed , state health officer, has previously said

Mississippi's obesity rate cost Medicaid alone $221 million each

year.

On Saturday, said the Department of Health is monitoring

the bill as it does all proposed legislation that could affect

public health policies. However, said the department

has " no position on the bill. "

" The bill was not discussed with us but we will work with the

sponsors to see if we can answer any questions along the way, " he

said.

The legislation would require the Department of Health 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. "

The department would be responsible for making sure restaurants

follow the law, which would go into effect July 1. Permits could be

revoked for failing to comply.

" I've seen a lot of crazy laws, but this one takes the cake.

Literally, " said J. , a senior research analyst for the

Center for Consumer Freedom. " Whether it is menu labeling laws,

taxes on fattening foods, or Mississippi's new " you're too fat to

eat here " proposal, the food police have gone too far. "

Mississippi also ranks " dead last " in the country for physical

activity, said.

" Maybe the state's Legislature should do something to help people

burn more calories instead of pretending that eating out is a

cardinal sin, " he said.

Mc's restaurant owner Mike Rutzer of Greenville agreed.

" It just staggers the imagination to think what our government will

come up with next, " he said. " It's discriminatory. Now we're picking

and choosing who to serve? "

restaurateur LeRoy said lawmakers should focus

on " health care, education, overall economic reform for our state.

People on the Coast are still impacted from Hurricane Katrina. "

" I think the individual who may have some challenges with their

weight needs to govern themselves accordingly with the choices they

put on their plates, " he added.

De , who was eating an early dinner with his mother

Saturday evening at Big Mama's Country Cooking Buffet in south

, said the bill equals discrimination.

" It's wrong, " he said. " And I think it would make restaurants lose

money, too. "

's mother, , shook her head at the bill's premise.

" You can't tell nobody how to eat. People have got to decide for

themselves to lose weight, " she said. " But, you know, some people

are big and happy. "

of Ridgeland had similar feelings toward the proposed

legislation.

" (Obesity) is a problem, I know. But it shouldn't be the

government's role to dictate what people are eating, just like

government shouldn't dictate smoking or drinking, " he said.

Mayhall acknowledges the bill is " bad legislation " and that

it " won't go anywhere. "

But he said, " The intent was to get it in committee and call

attention to the problem. "

[Guest guest]

This needs to be called The Butt-in-ski Bill. Its time for 'daddy

government' to back the FAT off and not ADD to the problem by shame

shame shaming it into law. Like 'obese' people don't need to eat?!?

Preventing them from eating is as logical as trying to stop a

politician from yakking!!!

>

> A bill that would force some Mississippians to back away from the

> buffet, or any restaurant, has begun its trip through the 2008

> Legislature.

>

>

>

> House Bill 282 would prohibit restaurants from serving food to

> anyone who is obese, based on criteria from the state Department of

> Health.

>

> Restaurateurs and an advocacy group say the legislation is a waste

> of time, and even one of the lawmakers pushing it doesn't expect it

> to travel very far.

>

> State Rep. Ted Mayhall, R-Southaven, said he's simply hoping

> to " call attention to the problem. "

>

> " No one's doing anything about it, " Mayhall said, referring to

> obesity. " They just keep on going to the buffets and eating. "

>

> Obesity makes people more susceptible to diabetes, which puts a

> further strain on the state's financially-challenged Medicaid

> program, he said.

>

> A 2007 report put that state's obesity rate at 30.6 percent - the

> worst in the nation.

>

> Mayhall said the bill has been referred to a House subcommittee. If

> it advances, it would be discussed in the House Public Health and

> Human Services Committee.

>

> Dr. Ed , state health officer, has previously said

> Mississippi's obesity rate cost Medicaid alone $221 million each

> year.

>

> On Saturday, said the Department of Health is monitoring

> the bill as it does all proposed legislation that could affect

> public health policies. However, said the department

> has " no position on the bill. "

>

> " The bill was not discussed with us but we will work with the

> sponsors to see if we can answer any questions along the way, " he

> said.

>

> The legislation would require the Department of Health 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. "

>

> The department would be responsible for making sure restaurants

> follow the law, which would go into effect July 1. Permits could be

> revoked for failing to comply.

>

> " I've seen a lot of crazy laws, but this one takes the cake.

> Literally, " said J. , a senior research analyst for the

> Center for Consumer Freedom. " Whether it is menu labeling laws,

> taxes on fattening foods, or Mississippi's new " you're too fat to

> eat here " proposal, the food police have gone too far. "

>

> Mississippi also ranks " dead last " in the country for physical

> activity, said.

>

> " Maybe the state's Legislature should do something to help people

> burn more calories instead of pretending that eating out is a

> cardinal sin, " he said.

>

> Mc's restaurant owner Mike Rutzer of Greenville agreed.

>

> " It just staggers the imagination to think what our government will

> come up with next, " he said. " It's discriminatory. Now we're picking

> and choosing who to serve? "

>

> restaurateur LeRoy said lawmakers should focus

> on " health care, education, overall economic reform for our state.

> People on the Coast are still impacted from Hurricane Katrina. "

>

> " I think the individual who may have some challenges with their

> weight needs to govern themselves accordingly with the choices they

> put on their plates, " he added.

>

> De , who was eating an early dinner with his mother

> Saturday evening at Big Mama's Country Cooking Buffet in south

> , said the bill equals discrimination.

>

> " It's wrong, " he said. " And I think it would make restaurants lose

> money, too. "

>

> 's mother, , shook her head at the bill's premise.

>

> " You can't tell nobody how to eat. People have got to decide for

> themselves to lose weight, " she said. " But, you know, some people

> are big and happy. "

>

> of Ridgeland had similar feelings toward the proposed

> legislation.

>

> " (Obesity) is a problem, I know. But it shouldn't be the

> government's role to dictate what people are eating, just like

> government shouldn't dictate smoking or drinking, " he said.

>

> Mayhall acknowledges the bill is " bad legislation " and that

> it " won't go anywhere. "

>

> But he said, " The intent was to get it in committee and call

> attention to the problem. "

>

[Guest guest]

Yeah, it would be like passing legislation that

only HONEST people with INTEGRITY can enter

Congress!!

> >

> > A bill that would force some Mississippians to back away from

the

> > buffet, or any restaurant, has begun its trip through the 2008

> > Legislature.

> >

> >

> >

> > House Bill 282 would prohibit restaurants from serving food to

> > anyone who is obese, based on criteria from the state Department

of

> > Health.

> >

> > Restaurateurs and an advocacy group say the legislation is a

waste

> > of time, and even one of the lawmakers pushing it doesn't expect

it

> > to travel very far.

> >

> > State Rep. Ted Mayhall, R-Southaven, said he's simply hoping

> > to " call attention to the problem. "

> >

> > " No one's doing anything about it, " Mayhall said, referring to

> > obesity. " They just keep on going to the buffets and eating. "

> >

> > Obesity makes people more susceptible to diabetes, which puts a

> > further strain on the state's financially-challenged Medicaid

> > program, he said.

> >

> > A 2007 report put that state's obesity rate at 30.6 percent -

the

> > worst in the nation.

> >

> > Mayhall said the bill has been referred to a House subcommittee.

If

> > it advances, it would be discussed in the House Public Health

and

> > Human Services Committee.

> >

> > Dr. Ed , state health officer, has previously said

> > Mississippi's obesity rate cost Medicaid alone $221 million each

> > year.

> >

> > On Saturday, said the Department of Health is

monitoring

> > the bill as it does all proposed legislation that could affect

> > public health policies. However, said the department

> > has " no position on the bill. "

> >

> > " The bill was not discussed with us but we will work with the

> > sponsors to see if we can answer any questions along the way, "

he

> > said.

> >

> > The legislation would require the Department of Health

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. "

> >

> > The department would be responsible for making sure restaurants

> > follow the law, which would go into effect July 1. Permits could

be

> > revoked for failing to comply.

> >

> > " I've seen a lot of crazy laws, but this one takes the cake.

> > Literally, " said J. , a senior research analyst for

the

> > Center for Consumer Freedom. " Whether it is menu labeling laws,

> > taxes on fattening foods, or Mississippi's new " you're too fat

to

> > eat here " proposal, the food police have gone too far. "

> >

> > Mississippi also ranks " dead last " in the country for physical

> > activity, said.

> >

> > " Maybe the state's Legislature should do something to help

people

> > burn more calories instead of pretending that eating out is a

> > cardinal sin, " he said.

> >

> > Mc's restaurant owner Mike Rutzer of Greenville agreed.

> >

> > " It just staggers the imagination to think what our government

will

> > come up with next, " he said. " It's discriminatory. Now we're

picking

> > and choosing who to serve? "

> >

> > restaurateur LeRoy said lawmakers should focus

> > on " health care, education, overall economic reform for our

state.

> > People on the Coast are still impacted from Hurricane Katrina. "

> >

> > " I think the individual who may have some challenges with their

> > weight needs to govern themselves accordingly with the choices

they

> > put on their plates, " he added.

> >

> > De , who was eating an early dinner with his mother

> > Saturday evening at Big Mama's Country Cooking Buffet in south

> > , said the bill equals discrimination.

> >

> > " It's wrong, " he said. " And I think it would make restaurants

lose

> > money, too. "

> >

> > 's mother, , shook her head at the bill's premise.

> >

> > " You can't tell nobody how to eat. People have got to decide for

> > themselves to lose weight, " she said. " But, you know, some

people

> > are big and happy. "

> >

> > of Ridgeland had similar feelings toward the

proposed

> > legislation.

> >

> > " (Obesity) is a problem, I know. But it shouldn't be the

> > government's role to dictate what people are eating, just like

> > government shouldn't dictate smoking or drinking, " he said.

> >

> > Mayhall acknowledges the bill is " bad legislation " and that

> > it " won't go anywhere. "

> >

> > But he said, " The intent was to get it in committee and call

> > attention to the problem. "

> >

>

[Guest guest]

Hey! I'd vote for that!! (and look at all the tax money that would be

saved - no congressmen's salaries to be paid!)

>

> Yeah, it would be like passing legislation that

> only HONEST people with INTEGRITY can enter

> Congress!!

>

[Guest guest]

I can't believe that they are trying to pass that!! How are they going to determine how obese you have to be before you're not allowed to eat there? Are they going to have a scale at the door? Katcha wrote: Hey! I'd vote for that!! (and look at all the tax money that would besaved - no congressmen's salaries to be paid!)>> Yeah, it would be like passing legislation that> only HONEST people with INTEGRITY can enter> Congress!! >

Ask a question on any topic and get answers from real people. Go to Yahoo! Answers.

[Guest guest]

Believe it or not, YES - that's exactly the plan.

I heard this story on CNN this morning and went

online to look up the details. According to the

legislation, they'd check " suspect " people's weight

at the door and calculate their BMI. Then refuse

service if it's over the " acceptable " limit as

determined by the state. They would also charge

the state Health Departments with enforcement, and

the restaurant can lose their business license for

failing to comply.

Every article I read said there is just no way

this is going to even get out of subcommittee, and

the guy who actually proposed it said he didn't

think it'd fly either, but he was proposing it to

" bring awareness of the issue of obesity. " Uh-huh.

Yeah.... 'cause we're all so terribly UNaware of it,

what with the media not ever saying anything about

it.....

> >

> > Yeah, it would be like passing legislation that

> > only HONEST people with INTEGRITY can enter

> > Congress!!

> >

>

>

>

>

>

>

> ---------------------------------

> Ask a question on any topic and get answers from real people. Go

to Yahoo! Answers.

>

[Guest guest]

Really??!! I can't believe that. I doubt that it will ever pass. How embarrasing would it be if you were going out to lunch with people from work and they asked you to step on the scale. Everyone else is allowed in but no you aren't allowed because you're too fat. Wouldn't that be fun! gymisadrug wrote: Believe it or not, YES - that's exactly the plan. I heard this story on CNN this morning and went online to look up the details. According to the

legislation, they'd check "suspect" people's weightat the door and calculate their BMI. Then refuseservice if it's over the "acceptable" limit as determined by the state. They would also chargethe state Health Departments with enforcement, andthe restaurant can lose their business license forfailing to comply. Every article I read said there is just no way this is going to even get out of subcommittee, andthe guy who actually proposed it said he didn't think it'd fly either, but he was proposing it to"bring awareness of the issue of obesity." Uh-huh. Yeah.... 'cause we're all so terribly UNaware of it,what with the media not ever saying anything about it.....> >> > Yeah, it would be like passing legislation that> > only HONEST people with INTEGRITY can enter> > Congress!! > > > > > > > > > ---------------------------------> Ask a question on any topic and get answers from real people. Go to Yahoo! Answers.>

Looking for the perfect gift? Give the gift of Flickr!

[Guest guest]

I hate this.Fat people need to eat too. Enough said.

[Guest guest]

The bizarre thing here is I'm remembering a study

I read about that said that overweight people, on

average, actually eat about 100 calories a day more

than " average " sized people. 100 calories! So you

wanna' BAN them from restaurants because they might

eat an extra piece of BREAD?!?!

>

> I hate this.

> Fat people need to eat too.

> Enough said.

>

[Guest guest]

I saw that this morning on the news! I couldn't believe it! It

really urked me because my grandpa was from MS and that is just

WRONG! It doesn't help the problem it makes it WORSE and it hurts

the local businesses! I may not agree with a lot of the view points

or policies here in CA but at least people don't discriminate

against you for being overweight!

>

> A bill that would force some Mississippians to back away from the

> buffet, or any restaurant, has begun its trip through the 2008

> Legislature.

>

>

>

> House Bill 282 would prohibit restaurants from serving food to

> anyone who is obese, based on criteria from the state Department

of

> Health.

>

> Restaurateurs and an advocacy group say the legislation is a waste

> of time, and even one of the lawmakers pushing it doesn't expect

it

> to travel very far.

>

> State Rep. Ted Mayhall, R-Southaven, said he's simply hoping

> to " call attention to the problem. "

>

> " No one's doing anything about it, " Mayhall said, referring to

> obesity. " They just keep on going to the buffets and eating. "

>

> Obesity makes people more susceptible to diabetes, which puts a

> further strain on the state's financially-challenged Medicaid

> program, he said.

>

> A 2007 report put that state's obesity rate at 30.6 percent - the

> worst in the nation.

>

> Mayhall said the bill has been referred to a House subcommittee.

If

> it advances, it would be discussed in the House Public Health and

> Human Services Committee.

>

> Dr. Ed , state health officer, has previously said

> Mississippi's obesity rate cost Medicaid alone $221 million each

> year.

>

> On Saturday, said the Department of Health is monitoring

> the bill as it does all proposed legislation that could affect

> public health policies. However, said the department

> has " no position on the bill. "

>

> " The bill was not discussed with us but we will work with the

> sponsors to see if we can answer any questions along the way, " he

> said.

>

> The legislation would require the Department of Health 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. "

>

> The department would be responsible for making sure restaurants

> follow the law, which would go into effect July 1. Permits could

be

> revoked for failing to comply.

>

> " I've seen a lot of crazy laws, but this one takes the cake.

> Literally, " said J. , a senior research analyst for

the

> Center for Consumer Freedom. " Whether it is menu labeling laws,

> taxes on fattening foods, or Mississippi's new " you're too fat to

> eat here " proposal, the food police have gone too far. "

>

> Mississippi also ranks " dead last " in the country for physical

> activity, said.

>

> " Maybe the state's Legislature should do something to help people

> burn more calories instead of pretending that eating out is a

> cardinal sin, " he said.

>

> Mc's restaurant owner Mike Rutzer of Greenville agreed.

>

> " It just staggers the imagination to think what our government

will

> come up with next, " he said. " It's discriminatory. Now we're

picking

> and choosing who to serve? "

>

> restaurateur LeRoy said lawmakers should focus

> on " health care, education, overall economic reform for our state.

> People on the Coast are still impacted from Hurricane Katrina. "

>

> " I think the individual who may have some challenges with their

> weight needs to govern themselves accordingly with the choices

they

> put on their plates, " he added.

>

> De , who was eating an early dinner with his mother

> Saturday evening at Big Mama's Country Cooking Buffet in south

> , said the bill equals discrimination.

>

> " It's wrong, " he said. " And I think it would make restaurants lose

> money, too. "

>

> 's mother, , shook her head at the bill's premise.

>

> " You can't tell nobody how to eat. People have got to decide for

> themselves to lose weight, " she said. " But, you know, some people

> are big and happy. "

>

> of Ridgeland had similar feelings toward the

proposed

> legislation.

>

> " (Obesity) is a problem, I know. But it shouldn't be the

> government's role to dictate what people are eating, just like

> government shouldn't dictate smoking or drinking, " he said.

>

> Mayhall acknowledges the bill is " bad legislation " and that

> it " won't go anywhere. "

>

> But he said, " The intent was to get it in committee and call

> attention to the problem. "

>

[Guest guest]

from my brief forays into fitday, I discovered that I average about 1600

calories a day. For

most people that would be a 'diet' but it keeps me 40 pounds overweight.

Don't you just love when people set themselves up as judge and jury over others?

>

> The bizarre thing here is I'm remembering a study

> I read about that said that overweight people, on

> average, actually eat about 100 calories a day more

> than " average " sized people.

[Guest guest]

This is disgusting! Anyone with half a brain knows that going out to eat isn't the problem. And how dare they assume to know who is "obese" by calculating BMI! While BMI is a better measurement than weight alone, it still is a joke. All those big guys I watched in the Superbowl yesterday have a BMI that is "too high". I know the legislator says he is just trying to prove a point, but it's horrible and just perpetuates the last acceptable discrimination - fattism. Not to mention the fact that they are also going to hurt small businesses in the process.

Thanks for bringing this to our attention, I've been ignoring the news lately. I'm glad it's making national news so the world can see how STUPID it is.

Anyway, I could go on, but you guys all know how I feel! It's just so dumb and insulting.Thanks!GillianGillian Hood-son, MS, ACSMHealthier OutcomesIt's not just about losing weight! Want to eat your favorite foods without gaining weight?Get your copy of our fr*e special report, "6 Simple Steps to Guilt Free Eating" by visiting http://www.healthieroutcomes.com

--- We Can't Eat in MississippiDate: Mon, February 04, 2008 6:53 amTo: IntuitiveEating_Support

A bill that would force some Mississippians to back away from the buffet, or any restaurant, has begun its trip through the 2008 Legislature.House Bill 282 would prohibit restaurants from serving food to anyone who is obese, based on criteria from the state Department of Health.Restaurateurs and an advocacy group say the legislation is a waste of time, and even one of the lawmakers pushing it doesn't expect it to travel very far.State Rep. Ted Mayhall, R-Southaven, said he's simply hoping to "call attention to the problem.""No one's doing anything about it," Mayhall said, referring to obesity. "They just keep on going to the buffets and eating."Obesity makes people more susceptible to diabetes, which puts a further strain on the state's financially-challenged Medicaid program, he said.A 2007 report put that state's obesity rate at 30.6 percent - the worst in the nation.Mayhall said the bill has been referred to a House subcommittee. If it advances, it would be discussed in the House Public Health and Human Services Committee.Dr. Ed , state health officer, has previously said Mississippi's obesity rate cost Medicaid alone $221 million each year.On Saturday, said the Department of Health is monitoring the bill as it does all proposed legislation that could affect public health policies. However, said the department has "no position on the bill.""The bill was not discussed with us but we will work with the sponsors to see if we can answer any questions along the way," he said.The legislation would require the Department of Health 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."The department would be responsible for making sure restaurants follow the law, which would go into effect July 1. Permits could be revoked for failing to comply."I've seen a lot of crazy laws, but this one takes the cake. Literally," said J. , a senior research analyst for the Center for Consumer Freedom. "Whether it is menu labeling laws, taxes on fattening foods, or Mississippi's new "you're too fat to eat here" proposal, the food police have gone too far."Mississippi also ranks "dead last" in the country for physical activity, said."Maybe the state's Legislature should do something to help people burn more calories instead of pretending that eating out is a cardinal sin," he said.Mc's restaurant owner Mike Rutzer of Greenville agreed."It just staggers the imagination to think what our government will come up with next," he said. "It's discriminatory. Now we're picking and choosing who to serve?" restaurateur LeRoy said lawmakers should focus on "health care, education, overall economic reform for our state. People on the Coast are still impacted from Hurricane Katrina.""I think the individual who may have some challenges with their weight needs to govern themselves accordingly with the choices they put on their plates," he added.De , who was eating an early dinner with his mother Saturday evening at Big Mama's Country Cooking Buffet in south , said the bill equals discrimination."It's wrong," he said. "And I think it would make restaurants lose money, too."'s mother, , shook her head at the bill's premise."You can't tell nobody how to eat. People have got to decide for themselves to lose weight," she said. "But, you know, some people are big and happy." of Ridgeland had similar feelings toward the proposed legislation."(Obesity) is a problem, I know. But it shouldn't be the government's role to dictate what people are eating, just like government shouldn't dictate smoking or drinking," he said.Mayhall acknowledges the bill is "bad legislation" and that it "won't go anywhere."But he said, "The intent was to get it in committee and call attention to the problem."