Regulations Banning Health Regulations?

Living in the great city of New York, it was nearly impossible not to hear about Bloomberg's efforts to curb obesity by banning large sugary drinks. A ban which, to say the least, sparked some controversy and is facing some resistance. Interestingly enough, as we often see in the United States, the complete opposite legislation has been imposed in other states. According to a New York Times article, this legislation “prohibits municipalities and other local governments from adopting regulation aimed at curbing rising obesity and improving public health”.

Politicians pushing this legislation mainly argue that it benefits business owners who are frustrated by regulation variations between cities and who worry that adjusting to varied local regulations will increase costs, making business unsustainable. However, variations between states still exist. Additionally, isn't banning any government intervention in public health through this regulation in and of itself a government intervention through regulation? Hmm, how ironic.

While I agree with proponents of this legislation who argue that it is not the government's place to intervene in deciding what we as American citizens can and cannot eat - this IS Amuurica (f*^&^ yeah!) after all - but then again, this is America, a country where more than one-third of citizend are obese, according to the CDC. ONE THIRD! That means that when you're sitting on a subway one of the two people sitting next to you is obese, and if they aren't, then statically, its likely that you are. Truth hurts. Now, obviously, this is not entirely an accurate scenario, and I'm not saying that I think that you are by any means obese. Obesity rates vary from city to city and state to state, but still, ONE THIRD of Americans have a BMI over 30. To put this in perspective, for someone who is 5'6 to achieve a BMI of 30, he or she must weigh 185lbs.

What's more striking, the states that are adopting these regulations are largely those with the highest prevalence of obesity, areas where education and increased health awareness is needed most. The often sweeping nature of these policies bans everything from regulations that encourage healthier foods be served in elementary and secondary schools, to listing calories in restaurant.

Government should not be overbearing in their regulation nor controlling of our individual preferences or practices, but do we not also elect government officials to provide leadership and enact legislation that protects us? People do not always make the best choices, even when they are educated on issues. What's more, is that medical costs associated with obesity were estimated at $147 billion in 2008. These costs indirectly impact society as a whole. Surgeries and medications that aim to alleviate health problems resulting from obesity are expensive. These costs indirectly increase insurance rates for everyone. This is not to say that we should not be directing our money toward those who need it for their healthcare, but if we could minimize these costs through preventative public health measures that can both improve the health of individuals and alleviate a unnecessary burden for society, shouldn't we?